Mina Kimes

Mina Kimes is a journalist, NFL analyst, senior writer, podcast host, and television contributor for ESPN. A graduate of Yale University with a bachelor of arts in English, Kimes began her career in business journalism at Fortune magazine, producing investigative reporting on topics such as arms exports and pharmaceutical safety. Her exposé "Bad to the Bone," which revealed the unauthorized use of bone cement linked to patient deaths, received the Henry R. Luce Award. Kimes also received the Front Page Award for business reporting and was the inaugural recipient of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers' Larry Birger Young Business Journalist Prize. Her work has been recognized by the New York Press Club, the National Press Club, and the Asian American Journalists Association.

Kimes transitioned to sports journalism after ESPN editors recruited her following a personal essay about her connection with her father and their shared support for the Seattle Seahawks. At ESPN The Magazine, she served as a senior writer, producing cover profiles of NFL athletes such as Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield, Antonio Brown, and Von Miller. She authored the first ESPN Cover Story, focusing on DeAndre Hopkins and his mother. Kimes has been a two-time finalist for the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting and received a National Headliner Award for magazine feature writing.

Kimes became an NFL analyst on ESPN's "NFL Live," joining analysts Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, and host Laura Rutledge. The show received the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Show – Daily, and Kimes earned a Sports Emmy nomination for Outstanding Personality/Studio Analyst. Barrett Media ranked her among the top sports television talent. Kimes has also served as a color commentator for Los Angeles Rams preseason games, demonstrating her expertise in sports broadcasting.

Kimes has played a significant role in ESPN's podcasting initiatives. She was the original host of "ESPN Daily" and hosts "The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny," produced by Omaha Productions. The podcast is among ESPN's most popular and has expanded with a dedicated YouTube channel, consistently ranking highly among sports digital shows. Kimes continues her tenure at ESPN as a multiplatform talent, recognized for her analysis, investigative reporting, and presence in NFL media.