Pat McAfee and other sports content creators have landed on TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Sports list. The list honors 100 of the most influential figures shaping global sports.
What We Know: TIME’s first-ever sports-focused list spotlights several major media personalities. Pat McAfee, Elle Duncan, Bill Simmons, Pablo Torre, Mike Tirico, and Shams Charania all earned recognition. Beyond media, the list includes marquee athletes like LeBron James, Caitlin Clark, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani. Executives, owners, and dealmakers such as Michael Jordan, Masai Ujiri, and David Mulugheta also made the cut.
What They Said: TIME Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley: “The inaugural TIME100 Sports list recognizes individuals who are not only excelling in their fields, but also shaping culture, expanding opportunity, and influencing the world far beyond competition. At TIME, we are proud to recognize those whose leadership and reach continue to shape conversations, industries, and communities around the world.”
TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs: “In our increasingly fragmented media environment, sports remain one of the last places where massive global audiences gather together in real time. As a result, many industries have drawn closer to live sports, and athletes have continued to seize larger and larger platforms. That has never been more evident than this year, as the Olympics and the World Cup have brought the competitions to center stage and events like the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show and the UFC fight at the White House have shown how sports can dominate the cultural conversation unlike anything else.”
What Remains Unclear: TIME has not revealed the full methodology behind its selections. It’s also unknown whether the list will expand or shift categories in future years. Additionally, digital creator IShowSpeed’s inclusion signals a broader definition of sports media influence. Whether that category grows next year remains to be seen.
What It Means: This list validates what the industry already knows. Sports media figures now carry cultural weight far beyond the booth. McAfee, Tirico, and Simmons joining athletes and executives on the same list is significant. Furthermore, it reflects how broadcasters, journalists, and digital creators increasingly drive the sports conversation.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
