Jon Kelley is a well-known American broadcaster with over 30 years of experience in sports journalism, entertainment television, and game show hosting. His journey from college football player to nationally recognized TV host is a powerful example of how talent, dedication, and hard work can lead to long-term success in broadcasting.

Jon Kelley is an American sports journalist, TV host, producer, and author who has worked with major networks and covered top events in sports and entertainment for more than three decades. He has worked with major networks, reported on championship sports teams, hosted entertainment shows, and gained huge respect for his smart and friendly on-screen presence. Many people search for “Jon Kelley net worth” because of his long Jon Kelley Career Highlights (Ranked), his time as a sports anchor, and his work on popular entertainment and game shows In this detailed article, you will learn about his life, earnings, early years, major work, achievements, and more, written in simple words for easy understanding.

Jon Kelley Biography (Quick Facts)

Early Life and Education

Jon Kelley was born on August 5, 1965, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He grew up in a sports-loving family, which strongly influenced his early interest in athletics. As a child, he spent a lot of time watching American football and developed a strong interest in athletics. Over time, this interest developed into a strong passion for competitive sports.

He studied at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he played four seasons of college football as a running back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His time as an athlete helped him understand teamwork, discipline, and communication — skills that later helped him in broadcasting.

After completing his college football career, Kelley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism, officially beginning his path toward television broadcasting. During this time, he began to shape his dream of becoming a television reporter and presenter.

In 1988, Kelley signed with the Denver Broncos of the NFL as a free agent. Although he did not continue a long career in professional football, this experience opened new doors and gave him strong confidence as he moved into the world of journalism.

Jon Kelley Career

Jon Kelley’s career is wide, diverse, and filled with important achievements. He has worked in sports news, entertainment shows, game shows, and morning broadcasts across many networks.

Early Broadcasting Career

Kelley started his broadcasting journey with smaller stations including:

• KTIV-TV (Sioux City, Iowa) – weekend sports anchor and reporter

• KMTV-TV (Omaha, Nebraska) – news reporter

• WDAF-TV (Kansas City, Missouri) – sports reporter and weekend anchor

These early roles helped him develop strong reporting skills, on-air confidence, and newsroom experience.

Chicago Sports Anchor – Rise to Fame

Jon Kelley gained widespread recognition during his eight-year tenure in Chicago while working for WMAQ-TV. Here, he covered some of the biggest moments in sports history, especially the legendary Chicago Bulls championship years.

During his time in Chicago:

• He covered all six Chicago Bulls championships.

• He hosted the popular “Sports Sunday” show.

• He worked with famous personalities like Dennis Rodman and Jay Leno.

His confident reporting style and strong sports knowledge quickly made him one of Chicago’s most trusted sports anchors.

Awards and Achievements

During his Chicago career, Kelley earned several top awards, including:

• Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award

• Peter Lisagor Award for Sports Journalism

• Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Award for Best Sportscast

These awards show his quality of work and long-term dedication to sports journalism.

Fox Sports Network

Kelley later joined the Fox Sports Network, where he became:

• Main anchor for “The National Sports Report”

• Lead anchor for the weekly “Baseball Today” series

His strong sports background made him a perfect fit for these roles.

Entertainment Career – Extra, ABC, The Mole

Jon Kelley later expanded into entertainment television, allowing him to reach a much broader national audience.

• He co-hosted the weekend edition of Extra (2001–2007).

• He worked as a primary correspondent for celebrity interviews.

• He co-hosted ABC’s Holiday with the Stars and All-Star Tribute to Movies.

• In 2008, he hosted the revival of The Mole, a popular reality competition series that further increased his visibility in entertainment television.

KNTV-TV & WFLD

Kelley later moved into morning news:

• Joined KNTV-TV (San Francisco) as a morning show co-anchor in 2011.

• Returned to Chicago in 2013 to co-anchor Good Day Chicago on WFLD, the FOX-owned station.

These roles helped him connect with a national audience and strengthen his media profile.

Entertainment Studios & Funny You Should Ask

In 2016, Kelley joined Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios. This became one of the biggest steps in his career.

His roles included:

• Hosting and producing shows

• Working on the revival of Funny You Should Ask

• Creating content for TheGrio.com

• Working with Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures

Today, Kelley is best known as the host of Funny You Should Ask, a comedy game show with a wide audience. This role is a major income source and a strong part of his brand identity.

Author & Producer

Jon Kelley is also the co-author of “Breaking Into Broadcasting”, a guide that helps young people enter the world of television. His writing shows his experience and desire to help new talent.

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Personal Life and Relationships

Jon Kelley prefers to keep his personal life quiet and private, choosing to stay away from unnecessary public attention. He is married and values spending quality time with his family away from the spotlight. While he maintains a limited social media presence, he is widely regarded as friendly, respectful, and consistently positive by colleagues and viewers alike.

Outside of his professional work, Kelley enjoys a well-balanced lifestyle. His personal interests include:

• Fitness and staying active through sports

• Writing and creative projects

• Reading and continuous learning

• Traveling and exploring new places

• Spending meaningful time with close friends and family

His calm personality, disciplined routine, and professional mindset have played a key role in helping him build and sustain a successful, long-lasting career in television.

Net Worth

As of 2025, Jon Kelley’s estimated net worth falls between $1 million and $5 million, built through decades of consistent and respected work in television broadcasting. His long-standing career across sports, entertainment, and game shows has provided him with multiple steady income streams.

His primary sources of income include:

• Hosting the popular game show Funny You Should Ask

• Long-term work with Entertainment Studios

• Sports journalism and television anchoring

• Entertainment and reality television projects

• Book writing and publishing

• Production and behind-the-scenes media work

• Guest appearances and special television events

Despite his success, Kelley is known for maintaining a private and modest lifestyle. He prefers to focus on his professional growth, family life, and creative media projects rather than public displays of wealth, keeping his life grounded and low-key.

Comparison of Net Worth with OtherCelebrities