Kathryn Tappen Age, Husband, Height, Salary & Net Worth

Kathryn Tappen is an American sports broadcaster and journalist best known for her work with NBC Sports. She has covered some of the biggest events in American sports, including NFL games, college football, NHL hockey, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl.

Tappen currently serves as a sideline reporter for NBC Sports’ Big Ten Saturday Night, appearing alongside the network’s college football broadcast team. In 2026, she also covered hockey at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, marking her seventh Olympic assignment with NBCUniversal.

With more than two decades of broadcasting experience, Tappen has worked for networks including NBC Sports, NHL Network, and New England Sports Network. Her career has made her a familiar face to NFL, NHL, college football, and Olympic viewers.

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Kathryn Tappen Quick Facts

Fact	Details
Full Name	Kathryn Tappen
Date of Birth	April 9, 1981
Age	45 years old
Birthplace	Morristown, New Jersey, USA
Nationality	American
Profession	Sports Broadcaster & Journalist
Education	Rutgers University
Master’s Degree	Global Sport Business, New York University
Current Network	NBC Sports
Current Role	Big Ten Saturday Night Sideline Reporter
Former Networks	NHL Network, NESN, NBC Sports
Husband	Jay Leach (former husband)
Height	Reported as 5 feet 10 inches by IMDb
Known For	NBC Sports, NHL, NFL, Olympics

Kathryn Tappen was born on April 9, 1981, in Morristown, New Jersey. Her broadcasting career began in 2003, and she has since worked across several major sports networks and events.

How Old Is Kathryn Tappen?

Kathryn Tappen is 45 years old as of 2026. She was born on April 9, 1981.

She entered the sports broadcasting industry in the early 2000s and has now spent more than 20 years working in television sports media.

Her career has included NHL hockey, NFL football, college football, golf, and Olympic coverage.

Kathryn Tappen Height

Kathryn Tappen is commonly listed as 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall. IMDb lists her height as 5’10”.

Because height information can vary between celebrity databases, this figure is best described as a reported measurement rather than an NBC-confirmed statistic.

Kathryn Tappen Weight

Kathryn Tappen’s exact weight is not publicly confirmed by NBC Sports.

Some biography websites may publish estimated weight figures, but there is no reliable official source that confirms a current number. For that reason, it is better not to present an estimated weight as a verified fact.

Kathryn Tappen Education

Kathryn Tappen attended Rutgers University in New Jersey.

During college, she was an Academic All-American and competed in both track and field and cross country. She was also a Big East Academic All-Star and previously held the Rutgers record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.

In August 2026, Tappen received a Master of Science in Global Sport Business from New York University, according to her current NBC Sports biography.

Her combination of athletic experience and education in sports business has been useful throughout her broadcasting career.

Kathryn Tappen Career

Kathryn Tappen began her professional broadcasting career in 2003 at College Sports Television.

She later worked as a weekend anchor and weekday sports reporter at WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island. After that, she joined the New England Sports Network, where she became a lead studio host for Boston Bruins games and also reported on the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Celtics.

Kathryn Tappen at NESN

Tappen spent five years at New England Sports Network (NESN).

Her work there gave her experience covering several major professional sports teams in the Boston area. She reported on the Bruins, Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics.

This period helped establish her as a versatile sports broadcaster rather than someone focused on only one sport.

Kathryn Tappen at NHL Network

In 2011, Tappen joined NHL Network as the host of NHL Tonight.

She also worked on NHL Live and covered major NHL events, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final.

Her work at NHL Network significantly increased her profile among hockey fans and helped lead to her later position at NBC Sports.

Kathryn Tappen Joins NBC Sports

Kathryn Tappen joined NBC Sports in 2014.

The network initially brought her in to work across NHL coverage, Football Night in America, Notre Dame football, and other sports programming. She also became part of NBC’s coverage of major events including the Olympics and Super Bowl.

Since then, her role at NBC Sports has expanded well beyond hockey.

Kathryn Tappen and Notre Dame Football

From 2014 through 2021, Tappen served as the sideline reporter for Notre Dame football on NBC.

She later hosted studio coverage from South Bend in 2022 before returning to the college football sidelines in 2023.

Her experience with Notre Dame helped establish her as an experienced college football reporter in addition to her long background in hockey.

Kathryn Tappen and Big Ten Saturday Night

Kathryn Tappen currently works as the sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock.

In 2026, NBC Sports confirmed that Tappen returned with Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge for the network’s Big Ten Saturday Night coverage. The trio entered their fourth season together.

Her role involves reporting from the sidelines during some of the most important Big Ten football games shown in primetime.

Kathryn Tappen at the 2026 Olympics

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics were another major milestone in Tappen’s career.

NBC Sports selected her as a hockey reporter for the Games. The assignment marked her seventh overall Olympic assignment with NBCUniversal and her fourth consecutive Winter Olympic hockey assignment.

During the men’s hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada, Tappen was part of NBC’s coverage team alongside Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, and Brian Boucher.

Her Olympic experience now covers multiple Games and several different sports roles.

How Many Olympics Has Kathryn Tappen Covered?

Kathryn Tappen has worked on seven Olympic assignments with NBCUniversal.

Her Olympic résumé includes:

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
2016 Rio Summer Olympics
2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics
2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics
2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
2024 Paris Summer Olympics
2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

Her roles have included hockey hosting, beach volleyball reporting, studio hosting, and hockey reporting.

Kathryn Tappen Super Bowl Coverage

Tappen has also worked on multiple Super Bowl broadcasts.

NBC Sports notes that she has worked three Super Bowls during her NBC career. She also served as a sideline reporter for NBC Sunday Night Football games during the 2021 NFL season and covered NFL postseason games.

Her Super Bowl assignments are another example of her ability to work across different sports.

Kathryn Tappen NHL Career

Although she is now strongly associated with college football, hockey has been a major part of Kathryn Tappen’s career.

She served as a host of NBC Sports’ NHL coverage from 2014 to 2021.

Before joining NBC, she spent four years at NHL Network. Her hockey résumé includes regular-season coverage, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Final.

In March 2020, Tappen also anchored studio coverage as part of an all-female crew that broadcast and produced an NHL game.

Kathryn Tappen Awards

Kathryn Tappen has received recognition for her sports journalism and broadcasting work.

In 2006, she received an Associated Press award for her sports feature titled “Swim Meet.” Her sports feature reporting has also received two Boston/New England Emmy nominations.

In 2014, she was honored with the Woman of Inspiration award by the Boston chapter of Women in Sports and Events.

More recently, Tappen was part of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event.

Who Is Kathryn Tappen’s Husband?

Kathryn Tappen was previously married to Jay Leach, a former NHL defenseman and coach.

The two married in 2009 and later divorced. IMDb lists their marriage as lasting from July 18, 2009, to 2014.

Because Tappen generally keeps her private life away from the spotlight, there is limited reliable public information about her current relationship status.

Is Kathryn Tappen Married?

Kathryn Tappen was previously married to Jay Leach.

Reliable public sources document their previous marriage and divorce, but current information about her private relationship life is limited.

Therefore, it is better to avoid claiming that she currently has a husband unless a reliable recent source confirms it.

Does Kathryn Tappen Have Children?

There is limited reliable public information about Kathryn Tappen’s children.

Some online biography sites publish personal details, but those claims are not consistently supported by strong primary sources.

For an accurate biography, it is better to focus on the information that has been publicly documented through reputable sources.

Kathryn Tappen Salary

Kathryn Tappen’s exact salary from NBC Sports has not been publicly disclosed.

Sports broadcaster salaries are often based on private contracts, and NBC Sports does not publish individual compensation figures for its reporters.

As a result, online estimates should not be presented as confirmed facts.

Her long career with NBC Sports, NHL Network, NESN, and major sporting events shows that she has established herself as a highly experienced sports broadcaster.

Kathryn Tappen Net Worth

Kathryn Tappen’s exact net worth is not officially confirmed.

Various websites publish estimated net-worth figures, but these estimates can differ significantly and are not backed by a public financial statement from Tappen.

Her income has been connected to a long career in sports television, including work with NBC Sports, NHL Network, NESN, NFL broadcasts, Olympic coverage, and major sporting events.

For this reason, a precise net-worth number should be treated as an estimate rather than an established fact.

Kathryn Tappen Social Media

Kathryn Tappen uses social media to share updates about her sports broadcasting work and major events.

Her official NBC Sports biography lists her social handle as @KathrynTappen.

Fans can follow her social media activity for updates about Big Ten football, hockey, Olympics coverage, and other broadcasting assignments.

Kathryn Tappen Career Timeline

2003: Began her broadcasting career at College Sports Television.

2000s: Worked at WJAR and later NESN, covering Boston-area professional sports.

2006: Won an Associated Press award for her sports feature “Swim Meet.”

2011: Joined NHL Network as host of NHL Tonight.

2014: Joined NBC Sports and began working across NHL, NFL, Notre Dame football, and Olympic coverage.

2014–2021: Served as a sideline reporter for Notre Dame football and hosted NBC Sports NHL coverage.

2022: Hosted Notre Dame football coverage and Peacock’s Sunday Night Football Final while also working as a lead interviewer for NBC Sports golf coverage.

2023: Returned to the college football sidelines as part of NBC’s Big Ten Saturday Night team.

2024: Worked her sixth Olympic assignment with NBCUniversal at the Paris Olympics and was part of an Emmy-winning Olympic production.

2026: Covered hockey at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and returned for NBC’s Big Ten Saturday Night college football coverage.

August 2026: Received a Master of Science in Global Sport Business from New York University.

What Is Kathryn Tappen Known For?

Kathryn Tappen is best known for her work in sports broadcasting.

Her major career highlights include:

NBC Sports Big Ten Saturday Night
NHL Network’s NHL Tonight
NBC Sports NHL coverage
Notre Dame football
Super Bowl coverage
Olympic coverage
NFL reporting
Golf interviews and coverage
Boston professional sports coverage

Her career is notable because she has successfully worked across hockey, football, golf, and Olympic sports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kathryn Tappen

How old is Kathryn Tappen?

Kathryn Tappen is 45 years old in 2026. She was born on April 9, 1981.

Where was Kathryn Tappen born?

She was born in Morristown, New Jersey, United States.

What does Kathryn Tappen do?

Kathryn Tappen is an American sports broadcaster and journalist. She currently works as a sideline reporter for NBC Sports’ Big Ten Saturday Night.

Who was Kathryn Tappen’s husband?

Kathryn Tappen was previously married to former NHL defenseman and coach Jay Leach. They married in 2009 and later divorced.

What is Kathryn Tappen’s height?

IMDb lists Kathryn Tappen at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters).

Where did Kathryn Tappen go to college?

She attended Rutgers University, where she competed in track and field and cross country and was an Academic All-American.

What is Kathryn Tappen’s current job?

She is currently a sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock.

Has Kathryn Tappen covered the Olympics?

Yes. She has completed seven Olympic assignments with NBCUniversal, including the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

What is Kathryn Tappen’s salary?

Her exact NBC Sports salary has not been publicly disclosed. Online estimates are not officially confirmed.

What is Kathryn Tappen’s net worth?

Her exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Any specific figure found on biography websites should be treated as an estimate.

Does Kathryn Tappen still work for NBC Sports?

Yes. NBC Sports currently lists her as the sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night.

Kathryn Tappen Fast Facts

Full name: Kathryn Tappen
Date of birth: April 9, 1981
Age: 45
Birthplace: Morristown, New Jersey
Nationality: American
Profession: Sports broadcaster and journalist
College: Rutgers University
Master’s: Global Sport Business, New York University
Current network: NBC Sports
Current role: Big Ten Saturday Night sideline reporter
Former role: NHL Network host
Former husband: Jay Leach
Reported height: 5 feet 10 inches
Olympic assignments: Seven with NBCUniversal
2026 Olympic role: Hockey reporter
Social handle: @KathrynTappen

Final Thoughts

Kathryn Tappen has built a long and successful career in American sports broadcasting. She began in local and regional sports media before moving to NESN, NHL Network, and eventually NBC Sports.

Today, she is best known as the Big Ten Saturday Night sideline reporter and remains an important part of NBC Sports’ football coverage. Her extensive Olympic résumé, NFL experience, NHL background, and Super Bowl assignments have made her one of the network’s most versatile sports reporters.

Her 2026 work at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and continued role on Big Ten Saturday Night show that her broadcasting career remains active and relevant.