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Paul Finebaum discusses receiving death threats during his career

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 28, 2026, 1:30 AM

Last updated Oct 28, 2026

Paul Finebaum discusses receiving death threats during his career

Summary

Paul Finebaum, ESPN and SEC Network host, opened up about receiving death threats related to his work covering college football. In a recent podcast interview, he recounted instances from the mid to late 1980s, primarily for his critical takes on Alabama football. Finebaum faced intense backlash for not being sufficiently supportive of the team, recounting an incident in which his home address was posted online with threats. While he acknowledged the fear these incidents caused, he continues to express his opinions on college football unabated. ESPN provides security for its employees, but Finebaum stated he rarely thinks about potential threats.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Paul Finebaum had death threats related to his SEC coverage.
•Threats escalated during his early career in the 1980s.
•One threat involved his home address being posted online.
•Despite threats, Finebaum maintains his critical perspective.
•ESPN provides security for employees, including Finebaum.

Latest Updates

1:30 AMYahoo Sports — Paul Finebaum opens up about receiving death threats: ‘That did concern me’

What they're saying

"
Paul Finebaum knows a thing or two about riling up sports fans. He also knows what it feels like when things go too far. The ESPN and SEC Network host has made a career out of saying things that fire up SEC fans, and given the passion that rules that kind of college football fandom,…
— Yahoo Sports

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