Jack Edwards (born March 1957)[2][1] is an American former sports commentator and reporter. From 2005 to 2024, he provided play-by-play commentary for Boston Bruins games on NESN television. From 1991 to 2003, he worked for ESPN as an anchor for their sports news program SportsCenter, as well as a play-by-play commentator for their NHL, MLS, Little League Baseball, and 2002 FIFA World Cup broadcasts. Edwards provided commentary for the Konami soccer video game MLS Extra Time 2002.
In 1988, Edwards became the weekend sports anchor for Boston's WNEV-TV/WHDH-TV.[8] While working for the then-CBS affiliate, Edwards also called some events for the network, including the US Open and the 1991 Olympic Winterfest.[4][9]
Edwards announced on April 16, 2024, that he would retire from broadcasting following the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.[13] He called his final game on May 2, 2024, a game 6 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs; rights to broadcasting game 7 were held exclusively by ABC/ESPN+.[14] His final game came one day after that of longtime Boston Celtics play-by-play commentator Mike Gorman, who also announced his retirement prior to the Celtics' 2023–24 season.[15][16]
Personal life
Edwards is married to Lisa Kraus.[17] They live in Simsbury, Connecticut.[18] Edwards began seeking speech therapy in the early 2020s as a result of slowed speech, which particularly became noticeable during Edwards' play-by-play commentary.[2]
References
^ abViles, Taylor (May 8, 2019). "Once a fan, now an announcer: Jack Edwards comes full circle". The 1851 Chronicle. Lasell University. Retrieved July 28, 2022. Born in Illinois in 1957, Edwards' first memory of sports goes back to when he was four years old and his father carried him into the Northwestern football stadium.
^Craig, Jack (December 15, 1985). "A Pitch for Sunday Baseball". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Newspaper.
^McAdam, Sean (March 21, 1986). "TV/Radio Sports: Pats likely to play 2 games in prime time next season". The Providence Journal. Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin.
^Craig, Jack (March 4, 1988). "Thanks to the Job Jack Edwards Did in Calgary ... His Star is Rising". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Newspaper.
^Craig, Jack (April 10, 1988). "Edwards Cashing in at Ch. 7". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Newspaper.
^Isaacs, Stan (September 1, 1989). "USA Coverage of the Open: More is Better". Newsday. Newsday, Inc.
^Quindt, Fritz (April 14, 2003), "Static", The Sporting News, vol. 227, no. 15, p. 10