Michael Patrick “Mike” Francesa, Jr. is a veteran American radio host as well as a television commentator known primarily for his work on the WFAN radio station network in New York City, where he hosted the show ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’. He currently serves as the host of his own show titled ‘Mike’s On: Francesa on the FAN’, a show he has been hosting since 2008. His other hosting duties include ‘Mike’d Up: The Francesa Sports Final’ that lasted from 2003-2011 and ‘The NFL Now’, on air since 1987.
Francesa gained recognition when he started his career with CBS Sports in the capacity of a researcher in 1982. He spent a lot of time focusing on college sports, having had six years of experience with College and Pro Football Newsweekly, before joining the network. Francesa worked at CBS until April 1993. However, he saw his career bloom at WFAN and has held numerous positions at the network since he joined it in 1987.
Early Life and Education
Francesa was born on 20 March 1954 in Long Beach, New York, where he was also raised. He is the middle child of his parents Michael Francesa Sr. and his wife and has an older brother named John. His father abandoned his family when Francesa was only eight years old. He also had a younger brother who committed suicide in 1990 and was named Mart.
Francesa attended the Maria Regina High School (renamed Kellenberg Memorial High School) in Uniondale, New York. He enrolled into the University of South Florida but after just 1 year transferred to St. John’s University, New York City from where he graduated with a majors degree in communications and athletic administration.
Career Rise
Francesa’s career started moving uphill after he secured a position at WFAN network, specifically after he was paired with Chris Russo as the host of the show ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’ which became instantly popular. Together with Russo, Francesa won the Marconi Radio Award in 2000. Since 1987, Francesa has been hosting ‘The NFL Now’ a weekly show, which is simulcast on MSNBC. His other popular show ‘Mike’s On: Francesa on the FAN’ was also simulcast on The Yes Network from 2008-2014, and is still on air on the home network.
Following Russo’s decision to leave WFAN in 2008, Mike and the Mad Dog was cancelled after being on air for 19 years. Francesa was then given his own show titled Mike’d Up in September 2008 and made to sign a 5 year contract with the WFAN network. In 2012, Talkers Magazine named Francesa the Number 1 talk-show host for sports in USA out of 100, and received the title for the second time consecutively in 2013 . He began broadcasting for Fox Sports 1, nationally in 2014. Francesa has announced his decision to resign from WFAN after his contract expires in December 2017. Apart from these show, Francesa has also served as on Westwood One and CBS Radio Network giving nightly “Sportstime” commentary and been a regular contributor on ‘Imus in the Morning’.
Personal Life
Francesa has been married twice. He was first married to Kate Francesa in 1983 but the marriage ended in a divorce after 11 years, in 1994.
In July 2000, Francesa married his second wife named Rose Francesa and has three children with her; fraternal twins named Emily Grace and Jack Patrick and another son named Harrison James.
Mike Francesa – Salary and Net worth
Although there is no account of Francesa’s salary, he has an estimated net worth of approximately $9 Million as of 2017. His yearly salary is at a range of $750,000 to 800,000.
House
Francesa bought a %3.5 million Long Island summer home, in 2006. The property sprawls across 1.3 acres and covers 2 guest bedrooms, a living room, a big basement, sun room, mudroom and a gourmet kitchen.