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Jane Slater
Jane Slater
from Wikipedia

Jane Slater (born November 7, 1980) is an American journalist, who works as a reporter for the NFL Network. Slater is based in Dallas, Texas, and mainly reports on the Dallas Cowboys but has also covered the New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans.[1] She has made other appearances on NFL Network including as fill-in host for Good Morning Football.

Key Information

Early life and education

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Slater is from Rowlett, Texas.[2] Her grandfather, Ray Shockley, was the president of Wolf Brand Chili and later made it the official bowl of Texas.[3] She graduated from Rowlett High School in 1999, then graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 double majoring in journalism and government.

Career

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Prior to joining NFL Network in 2016, Slater worked for ESPN as an anchor and sideline reporter for the Longhorn Network. She also worked on the College World Series and college football bowl games for ESPN and the SEC Network.[4] She nearly left the covering sports/news after being let go by ESPN. She spent eight years covering news before turning her attention to covering sports which included co-hosting a radio talk show Elf and Slater for a year on KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.[5] Also, she covered Dallas area sports teams for WFAA and KTVT.[6] She was offered a role on The Golf Channel but rejected the offer for the role for the NFL Network.[7]

Personal life

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In 2019 when commenting on the Peloton advertisement controversy on Twitter, Slater said that she got a Fitbit for Christmas from an ex-boyfriend. She said she liked it until he was unaccounted for at 4 AM and because their devices were synced, she saw his activity levels were spiking.[8] In 2021, Slater got backlash for posting an unpaid sports media opportunity on Twitter. She later posted she had three unpaid internships and had a job while at school.[9] She is a golf aficionado.[10]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jane Slater (born November 7, 1980, in ) is an American sports and reporter based in , best known for her role at where she provides in-depth coverage of the , including sideline reporting for broadcasts. Slater graduated from the in 2004 with majors in journalism and government, after which she launched her career in local media. She began at stations like , handling a range of assignments from traffic and weather reporting to investigative pieces and local sports coverage, including major events such as the and . This early experience built her foundation in , leading to roles in ; from 2014, she served as an anchor and sideline reporter for ESPN's , focusing on University of Texas athletics, and contributed to coverage. In 2016, Slater joined NFL Network, where she has since become a prominent figure in professional football reporting, known for her on-the-ground insights into team dynamics, player interviews, and game analysis. Her work extends to radio as a relief pitcher for 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, blending her sports expertise with broader media engagement. Slater's career trajectory reflects a persistent climb through competitive journalism ranks, marked by versatility and a focus on the NFL's premier franchise.

Early life and education

Early life

Jane Slater was born on November 7, 1980, in , a suburb of in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She grew up in this community, where her family played a significant role in shaping her early experiences; her parents are Tom and Raynette Slater. Slater's family background included notable business ties through her grandfather, Uriah "Ray" Shockley, who served as president of Wolf Brand Chili, a prominent Texas-based company that he helped establish as the "official bowl of Texas." Shockley, who rose to leadership without a college degree despite overcoming personal challenges including his parents' deafness, emphasized perseverance and education, values that influenced Slater from a young age. During her childhood in Rowlett, Slater developed a strong affinity for sports, becoming a die-hard fan amid the passionate sports culture that permeated local life. This environment, combined with exposure to regional media, sparked her early interests in and sports reporting. She graduated from Rowlett High School in 1999. Following high school, Slater attended the .

Education

She attended the , earning dual bachelor's degrees in and government in 2004. During her undergraduate years, Slater engaged in early media pursuits, including quitting the after one year to dedicate herself to studies and news-related activities. This commitment reflected her longstanding aspiration to enter the field of reporting.

Career

Early broadcasting roles

Jane Slater launched her professional broadcasting career in Texas shortly after earning a journalism degree from the in 2004. Her first role came in August 2004 at KYTX 19, a new affiliate in Tyler, , where she was initially hired as a sports reporter but quickly shifted to the investigative unit to cover general news stories. In 2006, she moved to Denver, Colorado, where she worked as a general assignment reporter and special projects producer at (ABC 7) for approximately four years, covering field reports including major weather events. In this early position at KYTX, Slater gained hands-on experience as a general assignment reporter, tackling local issues such as community events and emerging stories in the region, which helped develop her foundational skills in field reporting and storytelling. Although her tenure at KYTX was brief, it marked her entry into television news amid a competitive job market, following extensive audition tapes sent to stations nationwide post-graduation. By late 2009, Slater had returned to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, freelancing as a reporter and anchor at (CBS 11), where she handled the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts, segments, and field reports on , including and community happenings. In April 2011, she transitioned to rival station Channel 8, serving primarily as a reporter while contributing to coverage of Dallas-area events and stories. These roles at and allowed her to build a local profile through diverse reporting on urban issues, weather impacts, and regional , solidifying her expertise in fast-paced news environments. Through these mid-2000s experiences in local media, Slater accumulated essential broadcasting chops, from live hits to investigative pieces, setting the stage for wider opportunities beyond regional television.

ESPN and radio contributions

In the early 2010s, Jane Slater transitioned from local broadcasting to national sports media with , joining the in September 2014 as a studio host and reporter. In this role, she contributed to Texas GameDay coverage, hosted the post-game show Longhorn Extra, and produced feature stories for LHN programming, focusing on University of Texas athletics. Her work emphasized storytelling and fan engagement, drawing on her Texas roots to highlight inspirational narratives within . Slater expanded her ESPN portfolio to include sideline reporting and anchoring for college football bowl games, as well as coverage of the College World Series. She also reported for the SEC Network, providing analysis and on-site updates for major college baseball and football events, which helped establish her expertise in collegiate athletics broadcasting. These contributions marked a pivotal phase in building her national profile, shifting from general news anchoring to specialized sports reporting that showcased her on-camera presence and analytical skills. Parallel to her ESPN roles, Slater co-hosted the sports talk radio program "Elf and Slater" on KRLD-FM (105.3 The Fan) in from May 2012 to September 2013. Airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the show featured discussions on local and national sports topics, including Dallas-area teams and broader league developments, allowing her to hone live commentary and audience interaction. The program's cancellation in 2013 provided valuable experience in dynamics, further solidifying her versatility in media platforms before her full pivot to national television.

NFL Network tenure

Jane Slater joined in 2016 as a reporter based in , , where she has primarily focused on covering the . Her role involves on-site reporting from team facilities, training camps, and games, providing insights into player performances, contract negotiations, and team strategies. In addition to her Cowboys beat, Slater has contributed reporting on the and , including analysis of rookie minicamps and key player developments. She regularly appears on programs such as The Insiders and NFL GameDay Morning, delivering updates and breakdowns ahead of matchups. Slater has also served as a fill-in host for Good Morning Football, co-hosting special editions during events like the . Since joining, Slater's reporting has highlighted significant events and team dynamics, such as in-depth interviews with Cowboys stars like and during the 2025 training camp. In the 2024-2025 season, she provided previews of the ' campaign, including discussions on free agency moves and situations for opponents like the . Her coverage extends to international games, such as scouting reports for the 2025 Falcons-Colts matchup in .

Personal life and public profile

Personal background

Jane Slater maintains her residence in the area of , where she has lived since returning to the state after earlier career stints elsewhere. As a native of Rowlett, a Dallas suburb, and a alumna who graduated in 2004, Slater's personal identity remains deeply intertwined with her Texas roots, often expressing pride in her Longhorn heritage and the state's cultural influences in her public persona. In her adult life, Slater has shared glimpses of her family connections on , highlighting close ties to her parents and extended , including her late grandfather Ray Shockley, who served as president of . Following her mother's battle with and passing from cancer in early , Slater has reflected on the enduring impact of in posts that emphasize gratitude and resilience. Slater's social media presence provides a window into her non-professional life, with Instagram account @janeashleyslater boasting over 112,000 followers where she shares personal milestones, travel, and relationships, including going public with her boyfriend in 2025. Her Twitter account @SlaterNFL, active since , complements this by offering casual updates on daily life alongside professional insights.

Notable incidents and controversies

In 2019, Jane Slater shared a personal anecdote on about using data from her ex-boyfriend's fitness tracker to discover he was cheating, which highlighted broader concerns related to and shared app access. The story gained widespread media attention after Slater described noticing an unusual spike in his and activity levels at 4 a.m., prompting her to investigate further. This incident sparked discussions on the unintended capabilities of fitness devices, with Slater's account serving as a real-world example of how such data could reveal intimate details without explicit consent. Slater responded to the viral attention with humor, framing the experience as a rather than a source of ongoing distress, which underscored her ability to navigate public scrutiny with levity. The episode did not result in formal legal action but contributed to public awareness about data privacy in personal relationships, aligning with contemporaneous debates around similar devices like . In March 2021, Slater faced significant backlash on after posting about an unpaid opportunity in sports media, reigniting debates over exploitative labor practices in . Critics argued that promoting unpaid roles perpetuated inequality, particularly for those without financial means to afford such positions, while Slater defended the posting by noting it was not for her own organization and emphasized her own career path involving multiple unpaid during college. The exchange drew responses from industry figures and outlets, highlighting systemic issues in entry-level media jobs where low or no pay is common. Slater addressed the criticism directly on Twitter, calling detractors "rotten" and reiterating that such opportunities had been instrumental in her early career, though she later clarified her support for paid positions where feasible. The controversy prompted broader conversations in sports media about ethical hiring, with some outlets using it as a case study for reform, and Slater emerged resilient, continuing her reporting without professional repercussions. In May 2024, Slater drew attention for her pointed response to kicker Harrison Butker's controversial , in which he suggested women prioritize over careers. Slater tweeted "Bless Your Heart"—a phrase often interpreted as sarcastic Southern politeness—to critique Butker's remarks, aligning herself with widespread backlash against perceived in the . This interaction amplified discussions on roles within the league, with Slater's comment garnering thousands of engagements and support from fans and peers. No major resolutions were needed beyond the tweet itself, as it reflected Slater's ongoing engagement with social issues; by 2025, similar public scrutiny had not escalated into further controversies, allowing her to maintain her professional focus amid heightened visibility from her role.

Interests and philanthropy

Slater maintains a strong enthusiasm for , having appeared on the cover of Avidgolfer Magazine in 2004 during her early reporting days in , where she discussed her growing affinity for the sport. She continues to actively participate, spending time on the course to refine her skills, as highlighted in a 2025 interview where she expressed her ongoing passion for the game. Beyond athletics, Slater is a dedicated science fiction enthusiast, identifying as a "sci fi geek" in her professional profiles, and has referenced her expertise as a "sci fi connoisseur" in public commentary on genre-related topics. She also describes herself as a news junkie, reflecting a deep-seated curiosity for current events outside her reporting duties. As a alumna, her education there cultivated a lifelong for the , which she enthusiastically supports. In her philanthropic endeavors, Slater has contributed to NFL-related charitable initiatives, including coverage and participation in the East-West Shrine Bowl, an annual all-star game that raises funds for . While specific personal donations remain private, her involvement underscores a commitment to causes benefiting youth and health through sports.

References

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