Field Yates

Field Yates
Born
Field Minister Yates

(1987-04-23) April 23, 1987 (age 37)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materWesleyan University (BS)
Years active2008–present
Career
ShowFantasy Focus (2018-present)
StationESPN Radio
CountryUnited States
College football career
Wesleyan Cardinals
PositionSafety
Class2009
MajorPsychology
Personal information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
High schoolBelmont Hill School

Field Minister Yates (born April 23, 1987) is an American sportswriter and analyst, who is an NFL Insider at ESPN where he provides NFL and fantasy football insight. A graduate of Wesleyan University, where he was a two sport athlete, and a former member of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff, he has worked at ESPN since 2012.

Early life

Yates was born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 23, 1987. He attended Belmont Hill School and was a member of their football team. As a tight end and linebacker, he was named to the All-Independent School League.[1] He later attended Wesleyan University where he graduated with a degree in psychology.[2] At Wesleyan, he was a member of the football team and lacrosse team.[2][3][4]

Career

NFL

Yates intended to pursue a career in either coaching or scouting football.[2] His career was heading that way as he interned with the New England Patriots for four seasons during his high school and college years.[5] With the Patriots, Yates worked in a variety of scouting and coaching duties.[5] From 2009 to 2011, he worked for the Kansas City Chiefs in their scouting and coaching department. During his first year with the Chiefs, Yates worked as an in-house scout and soon after worked as an assistant to Head Coach Todd Haley.[1] Yates spent games in the coaching box and charted defensive plays.[1][6]

ESPN

Yates has stated that he ended up in broadcasting and journalism "by complete accident."[7] After leaving the Chiefs organization, he spent time writing a football blog and writing for some football sites.[7] In 2011, he connected with ESPN reporter Mike Reiss, who then served as a mentor to Yates.[8] Yates helped Reiss with his coverage of the Patriots during the 2012 NFL draft and the 2012 New England Patriots season.[7]

After first covering the Patriots for ESPN Boston, ESPN hired Yates and assigned him to a variety of duties.[7] At ESPN, Yates serves as a football analyst, who covers the NFL and provides fantasy football insight. He co-hosts the Fantasy Focus podcast on ESPN Radio.[9] He also hosts ESPN 2's Sunday pregame show Fantasy Football Now, which he was previously a contributor to, and serves as a contributor to Monday Night Football as the host of Monday Tailgate.[9][10]

He previously served as the host of ESPN Radio's shows Operation Football and Football Friendzy.[9] Yates is also a regular contributor to NFL Live, SportsCenter, The Fantasy Show on ESPN+ and to ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c York, Bob (August 23, 2022). "Former Belmont Hill Standout Takes a Seat — at ESPN | New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (MA)". New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "How Field Yates '09 Defies the Odds in the Sports Industry". Wesleyan University Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Ota, Kevin (August 27, 2015). "Wesleyan football pipeline a point of pride for Yates". ESPN Front Row. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Growing in the Media Space". TED (conference). Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "WHEN FANTASY IS REALITY WITH FIELD YATES". Athleisure Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Allen, Patrick (October 28, 2011). "Talking Chiefs With Field Yates". FanSided. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "Interview with ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates". Jacob and Jacob Podcast. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Friday Five: Field Yates". The 33rd Team. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d "Field Yates". ESPN. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Burack, Bobby (September 2, 2020). "FIELD YATES TO HOST 'FANTASY FOOTBALL NOW,' AGREES TO NEW CONTRACT". OutKick. Retrieved November 13, 2020.