Chris Russo is an American sports radio personality, television host, and author. He is best known as “Mad Dog” and as the former co-host of the hit WFAN show Mike and the Mad Dog with Mike Francesa.
Russo was born on October 18, 1959 (67 years old) in Syosset, New York, on Long Island. He runs his own SiriusXM channel, Mad Dog Sports Radio, and hosts the afternoon show Mad Dog Unleashed.
In 2000, he and Francesa won the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year, and in 2022, he entered the Radio Hall of Fame.
Quick Facts of Chris Russo
| Full Name | Christopher Michael Russo |
| Profession | Sports radio host, television personality, author |
| Age | 67 years old |
| Date of Birth | October 18, 1959 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Birthplace | Syosset, New York, United States |
| Current Address | New Canaan, Connecticut, United States |
| Gender | Male |
Chris Russo Early Life and Education
Chris Russo was born and raised in Syosset, New York, on Long Island. He is the only child of his parents.
He grew up in a sports-loving home, and radio broadcasts and games were a big part of daily life. That early passion pushed him toward a career talking about sports.
Education
Russo attended the Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York, and then went to Rollins College near Orlando, Florida. He graduated with a degree in history.
During his college years, he also spent one spring at the Cranleigh School in England and one semester at the University of Sydney in Australia, where he studied Australian history and literature.
| School | Darrow School, New Lebanon, New York |
| Alma Mater | Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in History, Rollins College |
Chris Russo Personal Life
Chris Russo keeps his family life fairly private, but he often shares small stories about his wife and children on air. He and his family have lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, for years.
Wife
Chris Russo is married to Jeanne Lavelle. The couple met in 1993 and married on May 6, 1995, and they have four children together.
Jeanne, a native of Rye, New York, has largely stayed out of the public eye. She manages much of the household.
Children
Chris and Jeanne have four children: sons Timothy, Colin, and Patrick, and daughter Kiera. Two of them have stepped into public roles.
- Colin Russo (Son): He followed his father into sports talk radio and co-hosts an afternoon drive show on ESPN West Palm in Florida.
- Timothy “Tim” Russo (Son): Tim has worked as an assistant coach with the Northern Arizona University men’s basketball program.
- Kiera (Daughter): Kiera graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Film, Television, and Theatre and writes a blog and Substack titled “A Penny For My Thoughts.”
Parents
- Anthony “Tony” Russo (1931–2013): Born in Flushing, Queens, Tony was a jewelry salesman and a massive New York Yankees fan. He famously helped spark Chris’s passion for sports by constantly arguing about games with him on the couch. He occasionally became a radio personality in his own right by calling into his son’s legendary Mike and the Mad Dog show for a segment known as “Tony’s Corner”. He passed away in 2013.
- Vera “Molly” Russo: Originally from England, she moved to the United States in 1955 and married Tony six months later. She was a devout churchgoer who famously insisted that a young, reluctant Chris attend church services, heavily shaping his faith. In an impressive personal milestone, she went back to college later in life and graduated at 78 years old. Following her husband’s passing, Chris moved her to New Canaan, Connecticut, to be closer to the family.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Jeanne Lavelle |
| Children | Sons: Timothy, Colin, Patrick Daughter: Kiera |
| Parents | Father: Anthony “Tony” Russo Mother: Vera “Molly” Russo |
Chris Russo Career
Chris Russo has spent about four decades in sports media. He grew from a young Florida radio host into one of the most famous and imitated voices in American sports talk.
1984 to 1988: Early Radio Years in Florida and New York
Russo began his professional radio career at WKIS in Orlando, Florida, where he worked from 1984 to 1987. Early on, listeners struggled with his fast, nasal accent, so the station sent him to a speech therapist twice a week.
He then moved to WMCA in New York City in 1987, before joining WFAN in 1988. While hosting a solo show that year, he was given the “Mad Dog” nickname by New York Daily News critic Bob Raissman.
1989 to 2008: Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN
In the fall of 1989, WFAN paired Russo with Mike Francesa, and Mike and the Mad Dog debuted on September 5, 1989. The afternoon show blended Francesa’s calm, encyclopedic style with Russo’s loud, rapid opinions.
The pairing became the most famous team in sports talk radio history and dominated the New York market. From 2002, the show was also simulcast on television on the YES Network.
After nearly 19 years, Russo left WFAN in August 2008, and the partnership ended. In 2016, the two reunited for a live event at Radio City Music Hall.
2008 to present: Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM
On August 19, 2008, Russo signed with SiriusXM to launch his own channel, Mad Dog Sports Radio, on channel 82. He hosts the channel’s flagship afternoon show, Mad Dog Unleashed, from 3 to 6 pm ET.
He brought in longtime WINS anchor Steve Torre as program director and hired Bill Zimmerman, known as “Billy Z,” as executive producer. Fellow SiriusXM host Bruce Murray has served as a lead-in to Russo’s show on the channel.
In July 2024, Russo signed a new extension that keeps Mad Dog Sports Radio and Mad Dog Unleashed running through 2027.
2014 to 2024: High Heat on MLB Network
Russo joined MLB Network on March 31, 2014, to host his first television show, High Heat with Christopher Russo. The daily baseball show featured his energetic style and strong opinions on all 30 clubs.
In 2021, Alanna Rizzo joined as his co-host. The show ended on November 1, 2024, after more than 2,200 episodes across 11 seasons, though Russo has continued to appear on other MLB Network programs.
2022 to present: ESPN First Take
In January 2022, Russo joined ESPN’s First Take, teaming with host Stephen A. Smith on a regular Wednesday basis. His “What Are You Mad About?” segment and his sparring with Smith introduced him to millions of younger viewers.
Interestingly, Smith had once worked on Russo’s SiriusXM channel from 2013 to 2017 before returning to ESPN. Russo signed a multiyear extension with ESPN in 2024, and he has called the run a career renaissance.
Chris Russo Awards and Honours
Chris Russo is one of the most decorated and influential voices in American sports talk radio. His honors reflect both his popularity and his impact on the format.
Key Wins
- 2000: The Marconi Radio Award for Major Market Personality of the Year, awarded alongside Mike Francesa for their ratings-dominant run on the Mike and the Mad Dog show.
Honors & Hall of Fame Inductions
- 2017: ESPN “30 for 30″ Documentary Feature, honoring the historic cultural impact and lasting genre blueprint built by the Mike and the Mad Dog program.
- 2022: National Radio Hall of Fame Induction, honoring his nearly 40-year career as a pioneer of sports talk radio across WFAN and SiriusXM.
- 2023: Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) Media Award, honoring his lifetime achievements in sports broadcasting and major contributions to baseball media.
Chris Russo Controversy
Chris Russo is a loud and opinionated broadcaster, so his career has featured several public flaps. Most involve on-air moments rather than serious scandal.
- The 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks Retirement Bet: During the 2023 National League Championship Series (NLCS), Russo boldly predicted that the Philadelphia Phillies would eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks. Live on his SiriusXM show, he vowed, “If they win, I will retire on the spot.” When Arizona pulled off the stunning upset to reach the World Series, Diamondbacks players and manager Torey Lovullo openly mocked Russo’s boast. Rather than stepping down, Russo appeared on The Howard Stern Show to pivot out of the bet, negotiating an alternative punishment where he walked the streets of New York in a bikini holding a self-deprecating sign.
- The 2024 Fake “Gummy” Sensation: While appearing on ESPN’s First Take in late 2024, Russo claimed on live television that he was “flying” because he had ingested a cannabis gummy right before the segment. He further dragged baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza into the story, claiming she was “in the mix” and witnessed it. The stunt quickly angered ESPN executives who did not appreciate the casual drug-use joke on a Disney-owned network. Russo later went on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina to admit the story was entirely fabricated, apologizing for unfairly involving Mendoza in a cheap radio bit.
- The May 2025 Studio Power Outage Rant: In May 2025, the First Take studio suffered a sudden live power failure, forcing hosts Molly Qerim and Russo to evacuate into a dark hallway to continue broadcasting via flashlights. Frustrated by the corporate mishap, Russo launched into a viral, unhinged on-air rant directed at the network’s financial management. He famously screamed into the camera, “If they didn’t pay Stephen A. $400 million, maybe they could pay their freakin’ bills, ESPN!”, poking fun at his colleague Stephen A. Smith’s highly publicized contract negotiations.
Chris Russo Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Chris Russo is about $22 million, and his annual salary is $5 million.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $22 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | $5 million |
Chris Russo Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Chris Russo:
| Height | In centimetres: Yet to be updated In meters: Yet to be updated In feet and inches: Yet to be updated |
| Weight | In kg: 75 kg In lbs: 165 lbs |
| Hair Color | Grey |
| Eye Color | Green |
Chris Russo Instagram, X
 @christophermaddogrusso | |
| X |  @MadDogUnleashed |
FAQs
Who is Chris Russo?
Chris Russo is an American sports radio host and television personality, known as Mad Dog and as the former co-host of Mike and the Mad Dog
How old is Chris Russo?
Chris Russo is 67 years old. He was born on October 18, 1959, in Syosset, New York.
Why is he called Mad Dog?
Chris Russo got the nickname in 1988 from critic Bob Raissman for his loud, fast, and passionate on-air delivery.
Is Chris Russo still on the radio?
Yes, Chris Russo hosts Mad Dog Unleashed on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, with a deal running through 2027.
Is Chris Russo married?
Yes, Chris Russo married Jeanne Lavelle in 1995, and they have four children.
How many kids does Chris Russo have?
Chris Russo has four children, namely three sons, Timothy, Colin, and Patrick, and one daughter, Kiera.
