Jane Skinner was once a well-known face on Fox News. She spent many years sharing important news with people across America. But in 2010, she made a big choice. She left her job to spend more time with her family. Many viewers were surprised by her decision.
Today, Jane Skinner is known as a former news anchor and the wife of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. But her life is about much more than her famous husband. She built her own career in television. She also found a new way to tell stories after leaving Fox News.
So, who is Jane Skinner, and what made her leave television news? In this article, we will explore her early life, family, education, and career. We will also learn about her time at Fox News and why she decided to leave. Her story is still interesting in 2026.
Who Is Jane Skinner?
Jane Skinner is an American former news anchor and TV producer. She was born on February 12, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. She is 59 years old in 2026. She became famous for her work on Fox News, where she spent years reporting and sharing important stories with viewers.
Jane is also the wife of Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL). Roger has one of the biggest jobs in American football. However, Jane had a strong career of her own before he became commissioner. She worked hard to become a trusted face on national television.
Many people remember Jane Skinner from the Fox News show Happening Now. She hosted the show with Jon Scott and helped viewers follow the day’s biggest stories. After leaving Fox News, she began working on shows about women in football. This gave her a new way to use her years of experience.
Jane Skinner’s Early Life
Jane Skinner was born in Chicago and grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois. She spent her childhood in a family that loved sports and politics. Her father, Samuel K. Skinner, was a lawyer who later held important jobs in the U.S. government. He served as Secretary of Transportation and White House chief of staff under President George H. W. Bush.
Jane grew up with two older brothers. Her family loved watching football, especially the Chicago Bears. Her father had season tickets to Bears games in 1972. Jane often went with her family to Soldier Field to watch the team play. Those football games became a special part of her childhood.
Football was not just something Jane watched on television. It was part of her family life from a young age. She enjoyed spending time with her father and brothers at games. Years later, this early love for football became an important part of her life again. It also helped shape her work after leaving Fox News.
Jane Skinner profile summary and bio
| Full Name | Jane Skinner Goodell |
| Known As | Jane Skinner |
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1967 |
| Age (2026) | 59 Years |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Not Publicly Known |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Profession | Former News Anchor, TV Producer |
| Father | Samuel K. Skinner |
| Siblings | Two Older Brothers |
| Education | Northwestern University |
| Degree | Bachelor’s and Master’s |
| Former Network | Fox News |
| Famous Show | Happening Now |
| Co-Host | Jon Scott |
| Left Fox News | 2010 |
| Husband | Roger Goodell |
| Marriage Date | October 25, 1997 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | 2 Twin Daughters |
| Twins Born | 2001 |
| Famous Documentary | A Lifetime of Sundays |
| Other Project | Earnin’ It |
| Net Worth | Not Confirmed |
| Famous For | Fox News and Roger Goodell’s Wife |
Jane Skinner’s Education and College Life
Jane Skinner went to Lake Forest High School in Illinois. She finished school in 1985 and later chose to study news and television. She wanted to learn how reporters find stories and share them with the public. Her interest in the news helped her choose a path for her future career.
After high school, Jane attended Northwestern University. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. During college, she learned how to write news stories, speak on camera, and report important events. These skills helped her prepare for the busy world of television news.
Jane knew that becoming a news anchor would take hard work. She needed to learn how to ask good questions and explain stories in a clear way. Her time at Northwestern helped her build these skills. After finishing college, she was ready to begin working as a reporter and follow her dream.
How Jane Skinner Started Her News Career
Jane Skinner did not become a famous news anchor overnight. She started her career at local television stations, where she learned how newsrooms worked. One of her first jobs was at KBJR-TV in Duluth, Minnesota. She worked as a reporter and covered stories that mattered to people in the area.
Jane later worked at WCSH-TV in Portland, Maine. In 1993, she moved to KMOV-TV in St. Louis, Missouri. Each job gave her more time in front of the camera. She met different people, covered local events, and learned how to handle busy news days. These years helped her grow as a reporter.
In 1995, Jane joined WITI-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a weekend evening news anchor. This was an important step in her career. She was now helping present the news from the studio. Her hard work and growing skills helped her move closer to her dream of working in national television.
Jane Skinner’s Career at Fox News
Jane Skinner later moved to New York and worked as a reporter for WNBC-TV. She then joined Fox News Channel, where she became a familiar face to viewers. Her work included reporting important events and presenting news on television. She slowly built a name for herself through years of hard work.
During her time at Fox News, Jane worked on several programs. These included Fox News Live, Sunday Best, and Studio B. She also had a segment called Skinnerville. Each show gave her a chance to cover different stories. Her calm voice and clear way of speaking helped viewers understand the news.
One of Jane Skinner’s best-known jobs was co-hosting Happening Now with Jon Scott. The show covered breaking news, politics, and major events. Jane helped share these stories with people across America. Her work at Fox News became a big part of her life and made her a well-known television anchor.
Why Jane Skinner Left Fox News
On June 24, 2010, Jane Skinner shared some surprising news with her viewers. She announced that she was leaving Fox News after many years in television. Her decision came during Happening Now. Many people knew her from the show, so the news marked a big change in her career.
At that time, Jane was raising twin daughters with her husband, Roger Goodell. Her daughters were still young, and she wanted to spend more time with them. Working in television often meant long days and busy hours. Jane decided that being home with her children was more important to her at that time.
Leaving Fox News was not the end of Jane Skinner’s story. She had spent years building a strong career, but she was ready for a new chapter. She later returned to media work as a producer. This time, she helped tell stories about women in football. Her life after Fox News would bring new projects and new goals.
How Jane Skinner Met Roger Goodell
Jane Skinner first met Roger Goodell at a friend’s wedding. At that time, Jane was living in Milwaukee, while Roger worked for the NFL in New York. Their first talk was about football. Jane had loved the sport since childhood, so they already had something in common.
But their love story did not begin right away. Jane was focused on her news career and wanted to reach her dream job in Chicago. She even told her mother that she was not very interested in Roger at first. Roger, who was about eight years older, gave her time to follow her dreams.
As they got to know each other, their friendship grew into love. Jane later moved to New York, where Roger was working. They spent more time together and became closer. What started as a simple talk about football at a wedding soon became a love story that would last for many years.
Jane Skinner’s Marriage and Twin Daughters
Jane Skinner and Roger Goodell got married on October 25, 1997. At that time, Jane was building her career in television news. Roger was already working for the NFL, but he was not yet the commissioner. He took on that role in 2006, almost nine years after their wedding.
The couple welcomed twin daughters in 2001. Their children became a big part of their lives. Even though both parents had public jobs, they wanted their girls to grow up away from too much attention. Jane and Roger have shared very little about their daughters’ private lives.
Their marriage has lasted for almost 29 years as of October 2026. Jane has joined Roger at football games, NFL events, and other public gatherings. She once shared that Roger loves the NFL Draft because he enjoys seeing young players reach their dreams. Their shared love of football remains an important part of their lives.
Jane Skinner’s Work After Fox News
After leaving Fox News in 2010, Jane Skinner spent more time with her family. But she did not leave the world of television forever. She later began working behind the camera as a producer. This gave her a new way to share stories without returning to daily news.
In 2019, Jane helped produce a film called A Lifetime of Sundays. The film told the stories of four women who helped shape NFL history. They were Norma Hunt, Virginia McCaskey, Martha Firestone Ford, and Patricia Rooney. These women had strong ties to famous football teams and their families.
Jane also worked on Earnin’ It: The NFL’s Forward Progress. The project included a podcast and a five-part TV series on Peacock. It shared stories about women working in football. Jane wanted fans to see the hard work these women did, both on the field and behind the scenes.
Jane Skinner’s Support for Women in Sports
Jane Skinner has always had a love for football. She grew up watching Chicago Bears games with her family. Years later, she found a way to use that love in her work. She began helping women in sports share their stories with a wider group of fans.
For many years, football stories mostly focused on male players and coaches. But women also worked hard to help the sport grow. Some became team owners, coaches, or game officials. Others worked in team offices. Jane wanted people to learn about these women and the jobs they did.
Through her films and shows, Jane helped bring these stories to life. Her work showed young girls that football is not only a sport for men. Women can also build strong careers in the game. This became an important part of Jane Skinner’s life after her years at Fox News.
(FAQs)
How old is Jane Skinner, and when is her birthday?
Jane Skinner was born on February 12, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. She is 59 years old in 2026.
What is Jane Skinner’s net worth?
Jane Skinner’s exact net worth is not publicly known. She earned money from her long career as a news anchor and TV producer.
How many children does Jane Skinner have?
Jane Skinner has two daughters with her husband, Roger Goodell. The couple welcomed their children in 2001.
Does Jane Skinner have twins?
Yes! Jane Skinner and Roger Goodell have twin daughters. Unlike their famous parents, the girls have mostly stayed away from the public eye.
What is Jane Skinner’s ethnicity and nationality?
Jane Skinner is American and is commonly described as White or Caucasian. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the United States.
Final Thoughts
Jane Skinner has lived a life filled with hard work and big choices. She began as a local news reporter and later became a familiar face on Fox News. Her journey was not always easy, but she kept working toward her goals. Over time, she built a career that many viewers came to know.
One of her biggest choices came in 2010, when she left Fox News to spend more time with her daughters. She later found a new path as a TV producer. Her work on football films and shows helped people learn more about women who played important roles in the NFL.
Today, Jane Skinner is known as a former Fox News anchor, Roger Goodell’s wife, and a mother of twin daughters. But her story is also about following dreams and making time for family. From news reporting to sports media, Jane has shown that a career can take many different paths.
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