Mina Kimes Biography and Wikipedia
Mina Kimes is a respected American journalist and NFL analyst, admired for her sharp analysis, storytelling skills, and engaging presence on ESPN. She began her career in business journalism, where she gained praise for her investigative work at Fortune and Bloomberg News. In 2014, ESPN brought her on board after reading an emotional essay she wrote about her connection with her father and their mutual love for the Seattle Seahawks. Since then, she has served as a senior writer at ESPN, appeared regularly on NFL Live, and hosted The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, named after her dog. She has also featured on shows like Around the Horn, First Take, and Pardon the Interruption, and worked as a color commentator during the Los Angeles Rams’ preseason games.
Age and Birthday
Mina Kimes was born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, on September 8, 1985, making her 39 years old in 2025. She celebrates her birthday each year on September 8. Her zodiac sign is Virgo.
Mina Kimes Height and Weight
Mina Kimes stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall (174 cm) and weighs approximately 56 kg (123 lbs). She maintains a slim, athletic figure and is often described as graceful and confident during her on-screen appearances.
Education Background
Mina Kimes studied at Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Arizona, where she graduated as valedictorian and showed early academic promise. She went on to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. She graduated summa cum laude in 2007.
Mina Kimes Nationality & Ethnicity
Mina Kimes, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is an American citizen with a mixed ethnic background. Her mother, Sun-Min Kimes, is Korean, giving Mina a strong tie to Korean culture. Her father, Peter Winston Kimes, was an American Air Force captain who helped shape her values and upbringing.
Significant Contributions, Notable Work & Influence
Significant Contributions
Mina Kimes built her reputation through powerful investigative journalism. In 2012, she exposed the dangers of bone cement in her article “Bad to the Bone,” which earned her the Henry R. Luce Award. She later published “King Kat” and “The Sun Tzu at Sears,” which explored corporate leadership and earned her the Front Page Award. In 2014, she joined ESPN after writing about her father and their love for the Seahawks, becoming one of the few women NFL analysts on NFL Live. She also led the podcast The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny and hosted ESPN Daily. In 2019, she worked as a color commentator for the Los Angeles Rams’ preseason games.
Notable Work
Mina received widespread praise for her award-winning piece “Bad to the Bone” on medical malpractice. She profiled several NFL players, including Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield, and Tyrod Taylor. As the host of The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, she blended humor and sharp insights. She also brought depth and clarity to daily stories on ESPN Daily. Her analysis continues to stand out on programs like Around the Horn, First Take, Pardon the Interruption, and The Dan Le Batard Show.
Influence & Impact
Mina uses her voice to promote representation and diversity in sports journalism as a Korean-American woman. She brings pop culture and humor into her coverage, making NFL stories more engaging and understandable. The industry has honored her contributions, naming her one of the most influential sports journalists of her generation. She has been recognized by the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Press Club, and the New York Press Club, and was also a finalist for the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting.
Mina Kimes Career
Mina Kimes began working as a reporter at Fortune Small Business in 2007, where she quickly became known for her strong reporting. In 2012, she earned the Henry R. Luce Award for “Bad to the Bone,” which revealed risks in medical procedures. Her early work combined deep research with storytelling impact.
In 2013, she moved to Bloomberg News as an investigative reporter. She wrote major profiles, including “King Kat” and “The Sun Tzu at Sears,” exploring leadership styles in major corporations. These stories won her the Front Page Award and further established her reporting credibility.
In 2014, ESPN recruited Mina after reading her personal essay about her father and the Seattle Seahawks. She transitioned into sports journalism and grew into a leading NFL voice. At ESPN, she profiled major players, joined NFL Live as an analyst in 2020, and hosted The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny. She also led ESPN Daily from 2019 to 2020 and regularly appeared on major ESPN programs.
Beyond ESPN, Mina contributed across other platforms. She called games for the Rams in 2019 and co-hosted pop culture shows like Big Little Live and Love is Kimes, which recapped Netflix’s Love is Blind. She also helped chef David Chang win $1 million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire by serving as his lifeline. Her work has earned industry praise, making her a standout figure among female NFL analysts and a strong advocate for inclusion in sports media.
Husband and Kids
Mina Kimes is married to Nick Sylvester, a music producer and co-founder of Godmode Music, based in Los Angeles. They met through friends in 2012 and got married in 2015 in Philadelphia. The couple has lived in Los Angeles ever since.
In September 2023, they welcomed their first child, a baby boy. Although they haven’t revealed his name, Mina often shares glimpses of their family life on social media. Their dog, Lenny, also makes regular appearances and is the namesake of her podcast.
Mina Kimes Salary and Net Worth
As of 2025, Mina Kimes has an estimated net worth of around $5 million, showing her success in sports journalism.
She now earns more than $1.9 million per year from her ESPN contract, which marked a big step up from her earlier salary. In addition to that, she brings in more income from The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, co-produced with Peyton Manning’s company, Omaha Productions. Combined, her total yearly earnings exceed $3 million.
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