Maria Taylor, the renowned sportscaster, made history as the first broadcaster to be stationed on the boat carrying the US team during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. She will be anchoring NBC’s Late Night program during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. But who is Maria Taylor?
Born on May 12, 1987, in Alpharetta, Georgia, Maria Taylor is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She gained recognition at ESPN before making the move to NBC Sports in 2022, where she became the first female full-time host of Football Night. Taylor has covered a multitude of high-profile sporting events including the NFL Draft, the NBA Finals, the Tokyo Olympics, Super Bowl LVI, and the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Not only does Taylor excel in broadcasting, but she is also involved in the production of an eight-part television documentary series on the history of the Black quarterback in the NFL. In 2021, Adweek recognized Taylor as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Sports,” and the following year, she was listed on Time Magazine’s TIME100 Next list.
Following her time at ESPN, where she reported on college football and the NBA finals, Taylor left the network after failing to reach a contract extension in July 2021. According to reports from The New York Times, the separation came after comments made by sideline reporter Rachel Nichols led to controversy.
Maria Taylor has since found success at NBC Sports, hosting popular sports studio shows such as Big Ten College Countdown and Football Night in America. In her personal life, Taylor married her second husband, Jonathan Hemphill, after rekindling their relationship in 2019. In December 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, Roman Ryan Taylor Hemphill.
As Taylor gears up to cover the Paris Olympics in 2024, fans can expect her to bring her signature energy and expertise to the Late Night program. With a passion for storytelling and sports, Maria Taylor is set to make a lasting impression on viewers as she hosts the most anticipated events of the Games.
