Rick Telander
Longtime sportswriter Rick Telander was a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated from 1981 to 1995 and then a featured columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times from 1995 to 2025. He has written ten books, one of which, Heaven Is a Playground, has been named one of the best sports books of all time. His work has been collected in over two dozen anthologies.
A native of Peoria, Ill., he attended Northwestern University on a football scholarship, earning All-Big Ten honors as a cornerback and twice being named to the All-Big Ten Academic first team. His junior year he was also the team’s punter. He has won many writing awards, including Illinois Sportswriter of the Year (eight times), the Dan Jenkins Award for Excellence in Sportswriting from the University of Texas, the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Distinguished Service from the Society of Professional Journalists, and his work has been nominated three times for a Pulitzer Prize.
He was an original member of the seminal ``The Sports Writers on TV’’ show. In 2022, he was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame in Winston-Salem, NC.
The latest from Rick Telander
NFL Draft 2026: Chicago Bears fill needs but miss chance for impact: Telander
Rick Telander, a contributing sports columnist for FOX Chicago, breaks down the Bears’ underwhelming draft and the uncertainty that defines the NFL’s most popular offseason spectacle.
Bulls play the lottery game as NBA looks to curb tanking: Telander
As the Bulls sit out the playoffs after a tanking season, Rick Telander examines how the NBA’s system can reward losing even as the league continues to thrive.
At the Masters, unplugging becomes the real tradition unlike any other: Telander
The Masters offers more than golf, delivering a rare, old-fashioned experience where fans unplug and rediscover what it means to simply watch and be present.
Michigan’s portal-powered lineup delivers championship in new era: Telander
Michigan captures the national title with a roster built through the transfer portal, underscoring how money, movement and experience are redefining college basketball.
Illinois faces more than UConn — Hurley’s volatility is part of the test: Telander
A stunning UConn comeback sets up a Final Four clash with Illinois, but all eyes are on Dan Hurley’s volatile sideline behavior and how it could impact the game.
We miss you, Drew Dalman. But, we understand you | Telander
Where are you, Drew Dalman? We miss you, dude. But we also understand you, writes FOX 32 sports columnist Rick Telander.
Joy, Braden Smith, Olivier Rioux & what I want to see in March Madness | Telander
Every March, FOX Chicago columnist Rick Telander says to himself: Rick, you don’t need this. You’ve watched it a thousand times. There’s always mayhem. But there are still things Rick wants to see this March.
Trump targets NIL pay in college sports as athletes cash in: Telander
As NIL deals reshape college sports, President Donald Trump and NCAA leaders are pushing to limit athlete pay while top college football and basketball players continue earning millions.
Bulls' latest rebuild echoes the Jordan-Krause dynasty: Telander
As the Chicago Bulls begin another rebuild after a brutal losing streak, a new look back at Jerry Krause and Michael Jordan’s dynasty highlights how the franchise rose — and fell — and what it must rediscover to matter again.
The NFL Combine begins with the Bears' to-do list and shopping list set | Telander
A terrifying edge rusher is the mightiest Bears need of all. That's at the top of their grocery list as the 2026 NFL Combine begins. Don't forget about their to-do list, either.