Roger Bennett

Roger James Bennett was born on September 14, 1970, in Liverpool, England. He received his education at Liverpool College. In 1994, Bennett moved to Chicago, where he noted the difficulty for American soccer fans to follow their favorite teams. This observation contributed to his later efforts to amplify the sport’s presence in the United States. In 2000, Bennett married Vanessa Kroll. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 1, 2018. Throughout his career, Bennett has authored several books on diverse subjects, including “Bar Mitzvah Disco” (2005) and “Everything You Know is Pong” (2010). His memoir, “Reborn in the USA: An Englishman’s Love Letter to his Chosen Home,” debuted at number one on The New York Times Bestseller List in June 2021.

In 2010, Bennett co-founded the Men in Blazers Media Network. The Men in Blazers podcast launched on the Grantland network in 2011, gaining popularity as a football podcast in North America. Following significant exposure during the 2014 World Cup on ESPN, the Men in Blazers duo signed with NBCSN to create a weekly half-hour television show covering the English Premier League, which premiered on September 15, 2014. Under Bennett’s leadership, the Men in Blazers Media Network expanded into a platform encompassing audio, digital, and television content, including three newsletters and an 11-season show with NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service. The network also broadened its sports coverage to include the NFL, golf (British Open and The Presidents Cup), and the NHL, launching “Men in Blazers on Ice” in 2019, which featured interviews with NHL stars such as PK Subban and Alex Ovechkin.

Bennett has also produced numerous television specials, interviewing notable figures in football and other sports, including José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Steve Kerr. From 2017 to 2021, he developed “The Promoted” series for NBC, a three-part annual television series that explored the journey and culture of newly promoted Premier League teams. His podcast ventures extended beyond Men in Blazers to include “American Fiasco” (2018) with WNYC, “The Wayne Rooney Podcast,” and collaborations with HBO for series related to “Succession” and “Band of Brothers.” He also co-hosted “World Corrupt” (2022) with Crooked Media. In April 2022, Bennett launched “The Women’s Game” podcast, dedicated to women’s soccer, and “European Nights,” focusing on the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Men in Blazers Media Network announced “Match Day Live” pregame shows across eight U.S. host cities.