South Jersey’s Sal Paolantonio, National Correspondent for ESPN, will be inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (NIASH) this month, being honored for his “demonstrated true greatness,” says Ron Onesti, President of NIASH.

“The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame is comprised of over 300 heroes, icons and role models: DiMaggio, Lombardi, Retton, Andretti…and now, Paolantonio,” Onesti adds. “Sal Paolantonio personifies the very essence of the Hall. His induction is a long time coming and we could not be more proud to welcome him.”

Paolantonio will soon celebrate 30 years with ESPN, having joined the company in 1995. (Prior to joining ESPN, he covered politics – and the Philadelphia Eagles – for The Philadelphia Inquirer.) At ESPN, he currently covers the National Football League for SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, NFL Live and Fantasy Football Now. He also hosts the long-running X’s and O’s weekly preview show, NFL Matchup.

Paolantonio is the author of 3 bestselling books, including “Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the Philadelphia Eagles Won Their First Super Bowl Championship,” and has been a voting member of the enshrinement selection committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH for 12 years.

“We accept this great honor with humility and gratitude,” says Paolantonio. “My family and I, my friends, my colleagues at ESPN – we are looking forward to being part of the Gala Induction Ceremony for the 2024 class of National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.”

The elite members of this year’s Hall of Fame Class includes Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Steve Sax and Wrestling Great Lou Albano, and will be enshrined at a black-tie gala in Chicago on Nov. 15. Honorees and their families will also attend a private dinner in their honor on Nov. 14.