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United States Ernie Johnson Jr. is a highly acclaimed sportscaster and studio host, recognized for his extensive work across various major sports leagues and events, offering brands a trusted and familiar voice that resonates with a broad audience.
Ernie Johnson Jr. joined ZERO Prostate Cancer as Global Brand Ambassador to help lead "Blitz the Barriers," a $20M campaign tackling racial and…
TV commercial: The General Insurance with Shaquille O' Neal and Kenny Smith.
He serves as a brand ambassador starting in February 2025.
He has taken on a role with the brand, though specific details of the partnership are not provided.
Ernie Johnson Jr. helps save lives through the Check for Cancer Champions program, part of Aflac's initiative.
Ernie Thorwald Johnson Jr. was born on August 7, 1956, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, Ernie Johnson Sr., was a Major League Baseball player who later transitioned into television sports commentary. The family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1964 when Ernie Jr. was eight years old. He attended Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia, graduating in 1974. Johnson then pursued a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Georgia, graduating summa cum laude in 1978. During his college years, he gained his initial sportscasting experience as the news and sports director for WAGQ-FM in Athens, Georgia. His early career saw him work as a news anchor at WMAZ-TV in Macon, Georgia, from 1979 to 1981, and then as a news reporter at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina, until 1982. In 1982, he joined WSB-TV in Atlanta as a general assignment news reporter, becoming the station’s weekend sports anchor and reporter in 1983, a role he held until 1989 when he transitioned to Turner Sports.
Johnson’s career at Turner Sports began in 1989, leading to his iconic role as the host of “Inside the NBA” since 1990. This postgame show on TNT has received 17 Sports Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Inside the NBA” is known for its blend of informative analysis and dynamic personalities, including Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, with Johnson guiding the discussions. Beyond the NBA, he has covered a wide array of sports, including Major League Baseball on TBS, the PGA Tour, college football, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for Turner Sports and CBS Sports. He also served as a play-by-play announcer for MLB Postseason games from 2010 to 2018, a role he described as a “spiritual experience” due to his father’s baseball background.
His versatility is evident through his hosting duties for Wimbledon (2000-2002), NFL coverage (1990-1997), and the FIFA World Cup (1990). Johnson’s contributions to sports broadcasting have earned him six Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host. He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023 and named National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association in 2021. In October 2022, he signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, and in 2025, he will continue his NBA hosting duties with ESPN/ABC, reuniting with his “Inside the NBA” colleagues. Johnson is also the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, “Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary,” published in April 2017.
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