Kelly Whiteside has made history as the first woman to be inducted into the Football Writers Association of America’s (FWAA) Hall of Fame, receiving the Bert McGrane Award for 2025. Whiteside, a 1990 Rutgers College graduate, has had a distinguished career as a sportswriter, notably spending 14 years at USA Today as a lead writer for the Olympics and World Cup and covering major sports events including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and NHL.
Whiteside’s career in journalism began at Rutgers University, where she spent significant time working at the Daily Targum. Reflecting on her foundational years, Whiteside shared, “Basically I majored in the Targum. That’s where I spent most of my time. It’s where my friends were. So it was definitely the best training ground for what I wanted to do as a reporter.”
Whiteside, who is now a professor at Montclair State University, was also the first female president of FWAA in 2002 and recently concluded a three-year term on the College Football Playoff Committee. Her contributions to sports journalism have marked her as a trailblazer in the field.
Throughout her career, Whiteside frequently acknowledged her roots at Rutgers, a university she felt naturally inclined to attend, stating, “It was just assumed that I would go to Rutgers… I wanted to go to Rutgers.” Her father, Joseph P. Whiteside, had served as the university’s Senior Vice-President/Treasurer.
Whiteside’s journey in sports writing began after a short-lived stint with Rutgers as a soccer player, ended abruptly by an ACL injury. Her career at the Daily Targum included climbing the ranks to Editor-in-Chief, and her time there left a lasting impression on her professional path.
Through her work, Whiteside has kept close ties to Rutgers, maintaining an affinity for the Scarlet Knights, stating, “As my career grew, I’d find myself covering college football games on the biggest stages… but I’d have a window at the bottom of my laptop open to the Rutgers game.”
Her connection with her peers and role models at Rutgers has also been significant. Sue Wicks, a star athlete at Rutgers during Whiteside’s time there, recalled, “I thought she was professional right from the beginning… Kelly and I, we just grew up together, I always felt.”
As Whiteside reflects on her celebrated career, she values her work at the Daily Targum as laying the groundwork for her achievements and pioneering accolades, including her recent Hall of Fame induction.
“It is a huge honor to be recognized by the FWAA,” Whiteside said of her award. She continues to root for the Scarlet Knights and values the education and experiences gained during her time at Rutgers University.
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