Mike Francesa Age, Wiki, Family, Career, Net Worth

Mike Francesa is an American sports radio talk show host and one of the most influential voices in the history of the format. He is best known as the co-host of Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN in New York City.

Francesa was born on March 20, 1954 (72 years old) in Long Beach, New York. For nearly two decades, he ruled the New York airwaves alongside Chris Russo before taking his solo afternoon show to the top of the ratings.

He is the only sportscaster ever to win the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year twice, and he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.

Beyond radio, he appeared as a bookie in the 2019 film Uncut Gems, which starred Adam Sandler.

Quick Facts of Mike Francesa

Full Name	Michael Patrick Francesa
Profession	Sports radio talk show host, television commentator
Age	72 years old
Date of Birth	March 20, 1954
Nationality	American
Zodiac/Sun Sign	Pisces
Birthplace	Long Beach, New York, United States
Current Address	United States
Gender	Male

Mike Francesa Early Life and Education

Mike Francesa was born and raised in Long Beach, New York. He is the second son of Michael Anthony Francesa and his mother, Marilyn.

His father left the family when Francesa was eight years old, and his mother raised the children as a single parent. He has an older brother named John and a younger brother named Marty.

Education

Francesa attended Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, New York, which is now known as Kellenberg Memorial High School.

He then spent one year at the University of South Florida before transferring to St. John’s University. He graduated from St. John’s in 1977, majoring in communications and athletic administration.

School	Maria Regina High School
Alma Mater	St. John’s University
Highest Qualification	Bachelor’s degree in communications & athletic administration

Mike Francesa Personal Life

Mike Francesa is a private figure when it comes to his home life, but the basic details of his family are well documented.

Current Wife

Francesa is married to Rosemary Francesa, whom he calls “Roe.” They married on July 14, 2000, and together they have three children. More details about Rose’s personal background are yet to be updated.

Ex-wife

Mike Francesa’s first marriage was in 1983, to a woman named Kate. They divorced in 1994. His three children were all born during his marriage to Rosemary.

Children

Mike Francesa has three children with his wife, Rose: fraternal twins Emily and Jack, and a younger son, Harrison.

Family was a major driving force behind his decision to step away from his grueling full-time afternoon drive slot on WFAN Radio. Francesa famously stated that he wanted to step back to attend his kids’ games and milestone events before they all grew up and left for college.

The children have since grown up and pursued their own paths:

• Jack Patrick Francesa: One half of the fraternal twins, Jack attended Hamilton College. He followed his love for sports directly onto the gridiron, playing college football as a tight end for the Hamilton Continentals.
• Emily Grace Francesa: Jack’s twin sister, Emily, chose a different collegiate path and attended Villanova University. She has generally kept a much lower public profile than her brothers.
• Harrison James Francesa: The youngest of the three, Harrison has actively shown an interest in following in his father’s sports media footsteps. He attended Fairfield University and has built up early career experience in the digital sports world, including interning and working with Barstool Sports. Harrison famously coordinated his father’s live broadcast appearance with Barstool during the World Series.

Parents

His parents are Michael Anthony Francesa and Marilyn Francesa. His childhood was defined by a difficult family dynamic.

Father

Michael Anthony Francesa abandoned the family when Mike was only eight years old, leaving them financially devastated.

Mother

Marilyn Francesa raised Mike and his two brothers as a single parent. Because she had to work long hours to support the family in blue-collar Long Beach, New York, Mike often took care of his younger brother after school.

Siblings

Mike Francesa has two siblings, both of whom are brothers:

• John Francesa: His older brother. During the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Mike famously used his radio platform to give emotional updates about the devastation in Long Beach, New York, specifically speaking about how John’s home had been severely wrecked by the storm.
• Marty Francesa: His younger brother, who tragically passed away. Marty struggled with mental health issues and died by suicide on November 27, 1990. Mike was very close to Marty.

Relationship Status	Married
Wife	Current wife: Rosemary “Roe” Francesa Ex-wife: Kate
Children	Sons: Jack Patrick, Harrison James Daughter: Emily Grace
Parents	Father: Michael Anthony Francesa Mother: Marilyn Francesa
Siblings	Brothers: John and Marty (deceased)

Mike Francesa Career

Mike Francesa built one of the longest and most celebrated careers in American sports radio, moving from a behind-the-scenes researcher to the defining host of the New York market.

1982 to 1993: Rise at CBS Sports

Francesa began his career with six years at College and Pro Football Newsweekly. In 1982, CBS Sports hired him as a researcher, focusing mainly on college sports.

Network executives were so impressed by his knowledge that he became a studio analyst for college basketball and football. Later, in April 1993, he announced that he had left CBS.

1987: Joins WFAN

When WFAN launched in 1987, Francesa applied for a host job but was first offered only a producer role, which he turned down. With encouragement from his then-wife Kate, he kept pursuing the station.

WFAN finally hired him in August 1987 as a weekend host talking college football and basketball. He was soon paired with local host Ed Coleman for a popular midmorning program.

1989 to 2008: Mike and the Mad Dog

In 1989, WFAN teamed the serious and knowledgeable Francesa with the young and energetic Chris Russo. The show was called Mike and the Mad Dog, and it quickly became a staple of the New York sports scene.

The program aired in the afternoon drive and was simulcast on the YES Network from 2002. In 2000, the duo won the Marconi Award and became the first sports talk hosts ever to earn that honor.

Francesa also hosted the weekly radio show The NFL Now from 1987 to 2016.

2008 to 2017: Solo Success on WFAN

After Russo left WFAN in 2008, Francesa launched his own solo program, first called Mike’d Up and later renamed Mike’s On: Francesa on the FAN. The show was simulcast on the YES Network until 2014 and on Fox Sports 1 from 2014 to 2015.

During his solo run, he hosted the top show in New York’s afternoon drive. Talkers Magazine ranked him the number one sports talk host in the country in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

2017 to 2020: Retirements and Returns

Francesa retired from his afternoon show on December 15, 2017, and was succeeded by Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray, and Bart Scott. He returned to WFAN in 2018 for a shorter afternoon slot.

He retired a second time at the end of 2019 and moved to a brief evening show along with content for the Radio.com platform. After a short return during the early COVID period, he retired a third time on July 24, 2020, citing a wish to spend more time with his family.

2022 to Present: The Mike Francesa Podcast

Since 2022, Francesa has hosted The Mike Francesa Podcast, distributed through the BetRivers Network. The show keeps him active in sports commentary well into his seventies.

Acting Appearances

Francesa has also stepped in front of the camera. He played himself in the 2003 television movie Undefeated and appeared as a bookie in the 2019 film Uncut Gems, which starred Adam Sandler.

Mike Francesa Awards and Achievements

Mike Francesa is one of the most decorated figures in sports radio history, earning national recognition for both his partnership work and his solo career.

Major Wins

• 2000: Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year, shared with Chris Russo, the first sports talk hosts ever to win it.
• 2012: Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year for his solo show, making him the only sportscaster to win it twice.
• 2012, 2013, 2014: Ranked number one sports talk radio host in the United States by Talkers Magazine.
• 2018: Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Mike Francesa Controversy

Francesa’s blunt, outspoken style made him a lightning rod for criticism throughout his career.

• 2018, Stan Lee reaction: Francesa drew backlash for a dismissive on-air response when a caller told him that comic book legend Stan Lee had died. The moment was widely shared and criticized.
• 2019, Corey Ballentine comments: Francesa appeared to shame the New York Giants and their draft pick Corey Ballentine after Ballentine was wounded in a random shooting, suggesting the incident clashed with the “great character” the team claimed about its draft class. He walked the comments back the next day.

Mike Francesa Net Worth

Mike Francesa’s estimated net worth is about $16 million, and his peak annual salary is roughly $3 million from his long career in sports radio.

Net Worth (Approx.)	$16 million
Salary (Approx.)	$3 million

Mike Francesa Height, Weight, and Physical Stats

Below are the physical stats of Mike Francesa:

Height	In centimetres: 5 feet 9 inches In meters: 1.75 m In feet and inches: 175 cm
Weight	In kg: Yet to be updated In lbs: Yet to be updated
Hair Color	Grey
Eye Color	Brown

Interesting Facts About Mike Francesa

• Mike owns racehorses through his JEH Racing Stable, named after his three children Jack, Emily, and Harrison.
• His horse High Oak won the Saratoga Special Stakes in 2021, and Casa Creed won the Fourstardave Handicap in 2022.
• Francesa’s devoted listeners became widely known as “Mongo Nation.”

Mike Francesa Instagram, X, YouTube

Instagram	@francesapodcast
X	@MikeFrancesa
YouTube	@MikeFrancesaPodcast

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