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Rachel Bonnetta
Rachel Bonnetta
Rachel Bonnetta
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Rachel Bonnetta (born 8 October 1991[2]) is a Canadian stand-up comedian. She was formerly a reporter and a former television host for NFL Network in the United States. She joined Fox Sports in 2016, hosting the @TheBuzzer digital series firstly,[3] then Fox Bet Live (formerly Lock It In)[4] on Fox Sports 1 and Visa Sunday Live Show, a highlights package of weekly NFL game action, on Facebook.[3]

Key Information

Before moving to the U.S. in 2015,[3] Bonnetta was brand ambassador for MLS club Toronto FC,[5] as well as being the host of children's show The Zone on Canada's YTV from 2012 to 2015.[3] This led to her hosting, at age 23,[5] Major League Soccer daily shows MLS Now and Off Topic with Rachel Bonnetta[6] from New York City[3] in late 2015 and early 2016,[7] before her move to the West Coast six months later.[5]

In August 2021, Bonnetta was announced as the executive producer of a TBS comedy series "loosely based on her real life in the sports broadcasting world".[8] Shortly thereafter, she joined NFL Network as a host on legalized sports betting-focused content, as well as the NFL's digital platforms such as NFL.com and the NFL app. Additionally, she will host, contribute and develop content on a variety of platforms across the NFL Media group, including a role on NFL Network's NFL GameDay Morning, host of NFL GameDay View, fill-in host on Good Morning Football, and a presence at signature events such as Super Bowl, NFL Honors and NFL Red Carpet.[9]

Bonnetta left NFL Network in March 2023, reportedly as part of a cost-cutting measure,[10] and switched careers to become a stand-up comedian.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Bonnetta is an alumna of Seneca College.[5]

She is the sister of musician Jonas Bonnetta of Evening Hymns,[12] and has two other brothers.[5] She is also a niece of Bruce Boudreau.[1]

In 2023, Bonnetta became engaged to Zach Schwartz.[13]

References

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Rachel Bonnetta

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Rachel Bonnetta (born October 8, 1991) is a Canadian sports broadcaster, , television host, and actress renowned for infusing humor and creativity into sports media through her on-air sketches, stand-up performances, and hosting roles at major networks like and . As of 2025, she hosts , a Vice Sports series exploring sports feuds, marking her return to television after a period focused on comedy following her departure from in 2023. Born in Orono, , Bonnetta grew up in as the youngest of four siblings in a family influenced by comedy, including frequent viewings of . She studied at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology from 2010 to 2012, during which time she worked as a in to support herself financially. Her early interest in sports stemmed from playing varsity , and she honed her on-camera skills through local opportunities before breaking into professional broadcasting. Bonnetta launched her career in 2012 by winning the "Dream Job" contest, which led to her role as a and host at , where she interviewed players and created promotional videos for Major League Soccer's franchise. After moving to the in 2015 for MLS-related work in New York, she joined in 2016, hosting shows like FOX Bet Live—the network's first program—and contributing to coverage of events such as the . In 2021, she transitioned to , where she hosted NFL Game Day Morning, contributed to , and produced viral comedic content like character sketches of players such as and coaches like , earning praise for lightening the tone of NFL coverage. Beyond sports, Bonnetta has pursued comedy and acting, performing stand-up and developing a semi-autobiographical TBS comedy pilot in 2021 loosely based on her experiences in sports broadcasting, though it remains in development. After NFL Network layoffs in 2023, she relocated to Los Angeles and focused on stand-up comedy before her 2025 return to hosting with Vice. Her multifaceted career highlights her as a trailblazing female voice in male-dominated sports media, blending journalism with entertainment.

Early life

Family background

Rachel Bonnetta was born on October 8, 1991, in Orono, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in Toronto as the youngest of four siblings in a family influenced by both sports and the arts. Her father, John, instilled a passion for hockey in the household, raising her to follow the Toronto Maple Leafs closely despite a love-hate dynamic with the team. John died in December 2012. This familial emphasis on sports extended to her uncle, Bruce Boudreau, a prominent NHL coach and executive, whose career led the family to support whichever team he coached, including the Vancouver Canucks in later years. On the artistic side, Bonnetta's brother, Jonas Bonnetta, is a musician known for the band Evening Hymns and a filmmaker who has directed projects like the Drifting Snow, in which the siblings co-starred as brother and sister. She has two other brothers. The family was also influenced by comedy, with frequent viewings of introduced by her brothers, which shaped her early interests in performance. These family ties to creative pursuits, combined with the sports-oriented environment, influenced her early exposure to performance and athletic enthusiasm, fostering interests that would later inform her career path. Her mother is Rita.

Education

Rachel Bonnetta attended Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in , , where she pursued studies in following high school. From 2010 to 2012, she completed the two-year diploma program, gaining hands-on training in key areas such as on-camera reporting, scriptwriting, audio and , and field journalism techniques in professional studio environments. To support herself financially, she worked as a in during this time. The curriculum emphasized practical skills essential for media careers, including creating engaging video content from concept to final edit, which built her confidence in live performances and storytelling. During her time at Seneca, Bonnetta balanced academics with extracurricular activities, including playing on the college's varsity , which fostered and alongside her media training. She also received early media exposure through projects, such as producing a 2012 audition video for a host position in collaboration with classmates from her lighting course. This hands-on work during her studies provided initial on-air experience and highlighted her emerging talent in broadcast production.

Broadcasting career

Canadian beginnings

Rachel Bonnetta began her professional broadcasting career shortly after graduating from Seneca College in 2012 with a degree in broadcast journalism. Her entry into sports media came through a competitive "Dream Job" contest organized by Major League Soccer's Toronto FC in early 2012, which she won in March of that year. In this role as the club's brand ambassador from 2012 to 2015, Bonnetta promoted Toronto FC through hosting events, interviewing players, and creating promotional videos, helping to engage fans with the team's Major League Soccer activities in the Canadian market. This position marked her initial foray into sports promotion, leveraging her Toronto roots to build visibility in the local soccer community during the early 2010s. From October 2013 to November 2014, Bonnetta hosted The Zone, a flagship weekday afternoon programming block on YTV, 's youth-oriented television network, airing from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. The show featured interactive segments where hosts, known as Program Jockeys (PJs), read viewer letters, previewed upcoming programs, and engaged young audiences with games, contests, and light-hearted commentary on entertainment and sports topics. Aimed at children and teens across , The Zone fostered a by connecting viewers through on-air interactions, contributing to YTV's reputation as a staple for after-school programming in over 11 million households. Bonnetta's tenure on the show helped introduce her to a national youth demographic, emphasizing fun and accessibility in media presentation. During her time with and The Zone, Bonnetta developed her signature energetic and humorous on-air style, characterized by comedic skits and relatable banter that appealed to younger viewers and sports enthusiasts. This approach, honed through promotional videos and interactive hosting, laid the foundation for her distinctive personality in sports , blending enthusiasm with light-hearted humor to make complex topics more engaging.

Fox Sports

Rachel Bonnetta joined in 2016 after relocating to the from , where her experience covering served as a key bridge to her American broadcasting roles. She began as co-host of Soccer @TheBuzzer, a daily digital series providing sports wrap-ups and highlights, which quickly expanded her visibility across Fox's platforms. This role allowed her to blend humor and fan engagement, such as quirky on-site interviews at matches, establishing her as a dynamic presence in sports media. During her tenure, Bonnetta expanded into analytical programming, hosting Fox Bet Live (previously known as Lock It In) on FS1, a daily show focused on insights and predictions. She also helmed the Visa Sunday Live Show, a Facebook-based digital program recapping weekly action and engaging viewers with post-game analysis. These roles highlighted her versatility in combining entertainment with expert commentary, contributing to ' growing emphasis on interactive and gambling-oriented content. Bonnetta's work extended to high-profile event coverage from 2016 to 2021, including on-location reporting at Super Bowls, where she delivered unique segments like exploring local scenes in host cities and fan-focused interactions. She also contributed to MLB postseason broadcasts, such as playoffs and , incorporating creative elements like playful fan engagements to enhance viewer connection. Her innovative approach, seen in memorable moments like a secret mission assignment from coach Jimmy Johnson during preparations, helped elevate Fox's event storytelling. In August 2021, Bonnetta announced her departure from after five years, expressing excitement for a "new chapter" in her career via . This move concluded her multifaceted contributions to the network's multi-sport programming and digital innovations.

NFL Network

In September 2021, following her departure from , Rachel Bonnetta joined as a host focused on legalized content, leveraging her prior experience co-hosting Fox Bet Live. She also contributed to the network's digital platforms, including NFL.com, and took on roles across various programs such as hosting segments on NFL GameDay Morning and serving as a fill-in host on . During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Bonnetta's contributions included on-field reporting at major events like the and , where she conducted player interviews on the red carpet and delivered engaging, humorous segments that blended her comedic background with sports analysis. For instance, she created mock interviews, such as one with quarterback , and produced lighthearted content like a musical recap of the offseason's key moves, adding a unique flair to the network's coverage. Bonnetta's tenure at NFL Network ended in March 2023 when she was laid off as part of the network's ongoing cost-cutting measures, which included staff reductions and contract buyouts amid broader financial restructuring.

Recent broadcasting

Following her layoff from in March 2023 as part of cost-cutting measures, Rachel Bonnetta entered a hiatus, during which she primarily pursued . Bonnetta made a gradual return to television in 2025, beginning with a prominent role in Vice Sports' documentary series The Grudge, which premiered on March 26, 2025. The 12-part series explores major American sports rivalries, featuring Bonnetta as a host alongside personalities like retired NFL player Steve Smith Sr. and former player Will Compton; episodes cover conflicts such as Shaquille O'Neal versus Kobe Bryant in the NBA, Aaron Rodgers versus Brett Favre in the NFL, and Brooks Koepka versus Bryson DeChambeau in golf, with the season concluding in June 2025. Her appearance in the series stunned NFL fans, who expressed excitement online with comments like "Haven't seen her in ages" and relief at her return after a two-year absence from sports TV. Later in 2025, Bonnetta expanded her on-air presence through freelance segments on Canada's Breakfast Television (BT), starting with a one-week stint as a temporary co-host in July. She continued contributing as a correspondent, including a October 24 segment from Los Angeles where she interviewed Dodgers fans about the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of MLB playoffs, blending her sports reporting style with light-hearted banter. These appearances marked her evolving freelance role in sports media, focusing on engaging, on-location commentary without a full-time commitment.

Other media pursuits

Comedy career

Following her departure from NFL Network in March 2023 amid cost-cutting layoffs, Rachel Bonnetta announced her pivot to a full-time career in stand-up comedy, embracing her identity as a Canadian comedian with roots in Toronto's entertainment scene. In an October 2023 interview, she revealed starting stand-up approximately five months earlier, around May 2023, after years of improv training at The Groundlings, citing the vulnerability of solo performance as both a fear and a passion that drove her transition. This shift marked a deliberate move away from structured broadcasting toward creative autonomy, allowing her to channel personal experiences into humorous narratives. Bonnetta's on-air persona during her sports tenure—characterized by light-hearted , audience engagement, and satirical skits on shows like Fox Bet Live and NFL Network's GameDay Morning—served as a natural foundation for her stand-up evolution. She has described leveraging her background to infuse sets with sports-themed anecdotes, adapting quick-witted responses honed in high-pressure media environments to connect with live audiences. This blend of her professional history and comedic timing has become a hallmark, enabling her to parody industry absurdities while drawing from broader life observations. Key milestones in her comedy career include early performances at venues like Flappers Comedy Club in 2023, where she tested material post-transition. By 2024, she launched a monthly hosting gig at Westside Comedy Theater in , starting February 3, and appeared at events such as the Irvine in May and We Own The Laughs in July. In 2025, her schedule expanded with shows at The Comedy Club at Duckworth's in March, an appearance at the "That Rocks Comedy" event in October featuring peers like , her debut at a festival in October, a set at Irvine on November 11, and a show at "That Rocks Comedy" in on November 20. These outings highlight her growing presence in the LA circuit, often emphasizing relatable humor derived from her athletic world insights without venturing into scripted specials yet.

Producing and podcasting

In August 2021, Bonnetta was announced as the star and of an untitled semi-autobiographical series in development at TBS, written by Betsy Thomas and loosely based on her experiences in sports broadcasting. The project, which explored the challenges and humor of her career in sports media, was envisioned as a single-camera but did not proceed to full series production. Bonnetta launched the podcast Benched with Bonnetta in 2022 through the Podcast Network, offering a female perspective on news, analysis, and off-field stories with a comedic twist informed by her background. Episodes typically feature recaps of games, player interviews, and guest discussions, running weekly during the season. For instance, in a 2023 episode, she hosted Dan Hanzus to discuss developments, including ' potential free agency and team roster moves. The podcast continued into 2025, with episodes like the preview of Week 2 NFC matchups, maintaining its focus on timely football commentary. In September 2025, Bonnetta started a newsletter at rachelbonnetta.substack.com, where she publishes original comedy sketches weekly in a format resembling comic strips, drawing from her long-standing interest in sketch writing. Examples include satirical pieces like "Steve Ballmer and His Trees," featuring guest appearances from figures such as Pablo Torre, blending sports absurdity with her humorous style.

Personal life

Relationships

Rachel Bonnetta became engaged to Zach Schwartz, a content creator for WAVE.tv, in July 2023. The couple married on July 27, 2024. The couple announced the engagement on Instagram, with Bonnetta sharing a series of photos from a romantic outdoor picnic, captioning the post "Best weekend of my life" alongside crying and diamond ring emojis. Schwartz also posted engagement photos, reflecting on his initial direct message to Bonnetta in 2015, which she had not responded to at the time; the pair went public with their relationship in September 2022. No prior romantic relationships involving Bonnetta have been publicly documented.

Health disclosures

In April 2025, Rachel Bonnetta publicly disclosed her diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), , and via an Instagram post, revealing that she had received them a few months earlier. She described the revelation as transformative, stating, "I am autistic. I was diagnosed a few months ago and it has completely changed my life and the way I understand it." Bonnetta emphasized the diagnoses as positive aspects of her identity, referring to autism as "beautiful" and a "gift." Bonnetta shared that the diagnoses provided clarity to her lifelong experiences of confusion regarding her emotions and sense of self, noting, "I have always felt so much confusion about who I am, what I feel and why I feel the way I feel and I finally got the answers I've been looking for." This disclosure came amid her transition in the broadcasting industry following her 2023 layoff from , highlighting her resilience as she continued to build her career, including hosting on . The announcement underscored how understanding her neurodivergence helped her navigate professional challenges and personal growth post-layoff. The post garnered widespread positive reactions on , with fans and peers expressing support and sharing their own experiences with autism, such as comments like "You're the best" and "Love ya Bonnetta! I am too. It's honestly insane how these people use autism as if it's a ." Bonnetta also used the platform to advocate for reduced stigma around neurodivergence, critiquing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s portrayal of autism as an "" by drawing parallels to the destigmatization of depression and anxiety, stating, "Remember when depression and anxiety was such a thing…. Girl, now we all talk about it." Her openness encouraged broader conversations about in sports media.

References

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  2. https://awfulannouncing.com/vice/rachel-bonnetta-makes-return-the-grudge.html
  3. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/the-many-faces-of-rachel-bonnetta-the-canadian-helping-the-nfl-take-itself-a-bit/article_b0b918e6-3a37-5566-8f1b-91da3294370a.html
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-bonnetta-09029580
  5. https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/rachel-bonnetta/bio
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  12. https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/programs/fulltime/RTVT.html
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  40. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aaron-rodgers-the-ny-jets-and-more-nfl-free-agency/id1603261623?i=1000603269663
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  42. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOGoJ7xETjZ/
  43. https://x.com/rachelbonnetta/status/1963645624915804617
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  45. https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-who-rachel-bonnetta-s-to-be-husband-zach-schwartz-exploring-ex-nfl-network-star-s-personal-life
  46. https://www.zola.com/wedding/zachandracheljuly27
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  52. https://thespun.com/nfl/nfl-fans-react-to-rachel-bonnettas-diagnosis-announcement
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