Kaylee Hartung has built a career in American journalism that spans both hard news and sports broadcasting. The 40-year-old reporter currently works as sideline reporter for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and national correspondent for NBC’s The Today Show. Her path from Baton Rouge to network television took nearly two decades across CBS, ESPN, CNN, ABC, Amazon, and NBC.
Born November 7, 1985, she’s covered white nationalist rallies, COVID-19 outbreaks, and SEC football championships. She talks openly about mental health and career choices. Her work shows how versatility matters in modern broadcasting.
Kaylee Hartung Quick Bio/Wiki
| Facts | Details |
| Full Name | Kaylee Hartung |
| Date of Birth | November 7, 1985 |
| Age | 40 years (as of November 2025) |
| Birthplace | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 50 kg (110 lbs) |
| Education | Episcopal High School (2003); B.A. Journalism & Politics, Washington and Lee University (2007) |
| Current Roles | Thursday Night Football Sideline Reporter (Amazon), National Correspondent (NBC’s The Today Show) |
| Previous Networks | CBS News, ESPN, CNN, ABC News, NBC Sports |
| Father | Joe Hartung (Royal Netherlands Air Force pilot; died 1996) |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly confirmed (as of November 2025) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $3.2 million (as of 2024) |
Early Life in Baton Rouge
Kaylee Hartung grew up in Baton Rouge surrounded by aviation and college sports culture. Her father, Joe Hartung, flew for the Royal Netherlands Air Force before moving to the United States and starting an aviation company. Her mother worked for the Tiger Athletic Foundation at LSU.
According to CNN, May 1996 changed everything when her father died performing at an air show. Hartung was 10 years old. The news coverage focused on the crash as an event rather than the person lost.
Years later, she explained her reaction to that coverage. “This report was not about the man who died. My father’s death was treated as an event.” That gap between headlines and human stories shaped her approach to journalism.
Education and Sports Foundation
Hartung graduated from Episcopal High School in 2003. She earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and politics from Washington and Lee University in 2007. She left school without a clear job path but with a commitment to storytelling.
Her early sports memories came from seeing Shaquille O’Neal play for LSU up close. “My first memories of sports are definitely Shaq. I thought he was a superhero,” she recalled in an interview with Nola. Growing up where her mother worked for LSU athletics gave her natural comfort with sports coverage.
Kaylee Hartung Career Timeline
CBS News (2007–2012)
Hartung started with a summer internship at NBC. Her first major role came at CBS News working as assistant to journalist Bob Schieffer. That evolved into an associate producer position on Face the Nation.
The CBS years built her foundation in political journalism. She learned editorial judgment and how to work under live television pressure. Those skills became essential for later career moves.
ESPN (2012–2017)
Hartung joined ESPN in 2012, working mainly for Longhorn Network and SEC Network. The transition surprised her. “If you’d have told me, as I was standing at my graduation without a job lined up, that eight years later I’d be reporting for ESPN on college sports at the highest level, I’d have laughed at you,” Kaylee Hartung said according to InRegister.
Her Louisiana roots made her a natural fit for SEC coverage. She reported on college football and basketball. ESPN helped establish her sports broadcasting credentials.
CNN (2017–2019)
CNN hired Hartung in 2017 to cover breaking news. She reported from Charlottesville, Virginia, during the 2017 white nationalist rally. That coverage earned her an Emmy nomination for breaking news reporting.
She also covered the Parkland school shooting and multiple Gulf Coast hurricanes. CNN sent her to major news events across the country.
ABC News (2019–2022)
Hartung joined ABC News as a correspondent in 2019. She reported extensively on the COVID-19 pandemic starting in early 2020. She contracted the virus while covering the Seattle outbreak in March 2020.
ABC News confirmed her diagnosis publicly. Her firsthand account added personal context to pandemic coverage.
Amazon and NBC (2022–Present)
July 2022 marked Hartung’s return to sports. Amazon announced she would serve as sideline reporter for Thursday Night Football with Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit. “Every time he says my name, and he does it every Thursday night right before kickoff, it’ll never get old,” Hartung said about working with Michaels.
In January 2023, she added a second role as national correspondent for NBC’s The Today Show. She also joined NBC Sports‘ NFL playoff coverage. The dual role shows her ability to move between news and sports.
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Professional Recognition
Hartung’s Emmy nomination for Charlottesville coverage remains her highest individual honor. The Television Academy recognized her live reporting during the violent rally. She provided real-time context while managing safety concerns.
She’s discussed the supportive community among female NFL reporters. “It’s the most special group of women I’ve ever gotten to consider myself part of. There’s no competition,” she said according to US Weekly. She mentioned strong relationships with Charissa Thompson, Taylor Rooks, Melissa Stark, and Erin Andrews.
Mental Health Discussion
Hartung has talked about her experiences with anxiety and depression in media interviews. She’s discussed seeking therapy while maintaining a high-pressure career. Her willingness to discuss mental health stands out in sports broadcasting.
The openness adds depth to her public role. She shares her own experiences when it might help others.
Health Decisions and Public Discussion
During the pandemic, Hartung decided to freeze her eggs and spoke about it on Good Morning America. “Something about that number and me sort of taking stock of where I’m at in my life struck me,” she explained about turning 35. She noted reduced travel during the pandemic made it a practical time.
She said the process was “weird on so many levels” and that little information existed for women exploring this option. Her public discussion provided insight for others. The decision reflected her career-first approach to life planning.
Kaylee Hartung Physical Details and Personal Life
Hartung stands 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 50 kilograms. As of The-Express November 2025, she has not publicly confirmed being married or in a relationship. She maintains boundaries around personal life while remaining professionally visible.
Financial Success
As of 2024, Hartung’s reported net worth stands at approximately $3.2 million, according to Essentially Sports. The figure reflects nearly two decades of work across multiple networks. Exact salary figures for her Amazon and NBC roles remain unconfirmed.
Current Work
Hartung’s schedule splits between news and sports. During the NFL season, she covers Thursday nights for Amazon’s broadcast. The rest of the week, she works for The Today Show on breaking news and feature stories. NBC Sports uses her for playoff coverage when available.
The dual role is demanding but plays to her strengths. She brings journalistic instincts to sports and storytelling skills to news.
Kaylee Hartung Impact on Broadcasting
Hartung shows that journalists can credibly cover multiple categories. She’s worked on presidential politics, natural disasters, mass shootings, and NFL football. That versatility is increasingly valued in modern media.
Her public discussions about health decisions and mental health have helped normalize these topics. Speaking about egg freezing gave other women information. Discussing anxiety challenged sports media culture.
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Conclusion
Kaylee Hartung’s career spans political journalism and sports broadcasting. From CBS producer to Amazon sideline reporter, she’s built a professional identity around adaptability. Her willingness to discuss personal choices adds dimension to her work while maintaining credibility.
At 40, she balances Thursday Night Football and The Today Show. The dual role reflects her Louisiana sports roots, political journalism training, and commitment to complete storytelling.
FAQ’s About Kaylee Hartung
Is Kaylee Hartung married?
As of November 2025, she has not publicly confirmed being married or in a relationship.
What is Kaylee Hartung’s net worth?
Essentially Sports report approximately $3.2 million as of 2024..
Did Kaylee Hartung have COVID-19?
Yes, she contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 while covering the Seattle outbreak for ABC News.
What networks has Kaylee Hartung worked for?
CBS News, ESPN, CNN, ABC News, Amazon Prime Video, NBC News, and NBC Sports.
What was Kaylee Hartung’s Emmy nomination for?
She received an Emmy nomination for live breaking news coverage during the 2017 Charlottesville rally.
How tall is Kaylee Hartung?
She stands 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall.
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