March 13, 2025, 03:00 Eastern
John Feinstein passed away Thursday as his career as a sportsbook columnist and bestselling author, and he is one of the most notable sportswriters of his time. He was 69 years old.
Feinstein died of natural causes at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. Robert Feinstein said he found his brother’s body.
John Feinstein was a regular sports columnist for the Post, but began his career as a night police reporter in 1977. He was most widely known for his college basketball coverage, but he wrote about all sports, including golf, college football and the Olympics. He wrote for Golf Digest, frequently contributed to a variety of radio shows, and regularly had stints on public radio around the country.
“He was very passionate about things,” Robert Feinstein said. “People loved him or hated him — and as strong.”
The column, written by Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s John Feinstein, was published by the Post on Thursday morning.
John Feinstein was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
According to his website, Feinstein has written 48 books. His first book, “A Season on the Brink,” which recorded the 1985-86 Indiana University basketball season, became famous to him, spending 17 weeks on the Times bestseller list. The book details Bob Knight’s coaching methods and later became an ESPN film.
He also wrote “Good Walk Sailed” for about a year on the 1994-95 PGA Tour. It was also the Civil War, a highly acclaimed book on Army Navy football’s rivalry. He also wrote mysterious books about over billions of teenagers.
“The Ancient Eight” about Ivy League football was published last year.
Feinstein was awarded the Kurt Gordie Media Award in 2013 by the Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also in the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
Feinstein was survived by his wife Christine, son Danny, daughters Brigid and Jane, and Robert and his sister, Margaret.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
