Rich Cimini joined ESPN in April 2010, after a newspaper career that spanned 25 years. He covers the New York Jets for ESPN.com, which entails daily writing and reporting for the web site and producing weekly video commentary. He also hosts a Jets podcast on ESPN called Flight Deck, is a frequent radio guest on ESPN New York 98.7 FM and makes occasional appearances on NFL Live.

Cimini’s work has been recognized by the National Sports Media Association, Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press New York and United Press International New York. The National Sports Media Association named him New York State Sports Writer of the Year in 2020, and the Pro Football Writers of America awarded him first place in the Bob Oates NFL beat writing award in 2019. He is also a member of the Suffolk County (NY) and Sachem High School Sports Halls of Fame.

Cimini started covering the Jets on a full-time basis in 1989, making him the longest-tenured beat writer in the history of the franchise. He has covered more than 500 Jets games and 26 Super Bowls.

After graduating from Syracuse University in 1985 with a degree in journalism, Cimini started at Newsday before moving on to the New York Daily News in 1996. At the News, he made weekly appearances on SportsNet New York’s Daily News Live TV show. He also was a weekly contributor to The Sporting News.

Cimini is the president of the New York chapter (Jets) of the PFWA, and he teaches a sports journalism class at Syracuse University. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two children.