Taylor Bisciotti: Redefining the Intersection of Fashion, Fitness, and Football

Meet the blonde bombshell from Atlanta, Georgia, Taylor Bisciotti! Taylor’s passion for sports runs through her veins, and growing up as the only girl among five boys between her brothers and cousins, football was the universal language of her close-knit family. With Sundays dedicated to watching games, it’s no surprise that Taylor pursued her dream career as a Sideline Reporter for the SEC Network and ESPN, and then as a Host for Sporting News.

But that’s not all – with her shining all-star talent, Taylor caught the eye of the NFL Network, who quickly recruited her as an Anchor/Reporter, making her not only a rare breed as a female leader in sports, but also the youngest on-air talent the NFL Network has ever hired. With her on-screen success, Taylor is paving the way to shut down the stigma of the male-dominated sport that females, fashion, and football don’t mix.

Now residing in the entertainment hub of Los Angeles, Taylor is tackling all sides of the industry as a fashionista and football fanatic. Her playbook is chock-full of formations that are shaping women’s empowerment in the field of sports and the connections between players and fans that stem from them.

In addition to promoting women’s empowerment, Taylor is also an advocate for healthy living, regularly showcasing her own love of hiking and healthy baking on her social media. And let’s not forget, this girl knows how to have fun – she preaches a balanced lifestyle and indulges in her guilty pleasure from time to time with a vanilla ice-cream cone from McDonald’s. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in the sports industry, and how did your upbringing influence this decision?

Oh gosh, you know how they say no two paths are ever the same?  That definitely holds true for me! I was an accounting major (yes, I don’t even do my own taxes now).  I was sitting in my final month of college before deciding on one of the big accounting firms and I just remember thinking to myself “why am I doing this?! I don’t even like accounting” In that class in April, I applied to every news & sports internship I could find.  I ended up interning at WUSA9, the CBS affiliate in DC for hard news.  The 11 pm newscast.  I knew I didn’t want to be a hard news reporter but I figured if I could just get myself in the door, I can try and immerse myself in the sports department as much as possible so that’s what I did.  At the end of the internship, my parents said if you really want to do this you need to go back to school for broadcast journalism.  Luckily, UGA has the most incredible journalism school so that’s what I did.  In my final semester of college, I started working for ESPNU campus connection and that’s what really helped land me my first major network job after college.

I knew I loved sports—I grew up a die-hard football fan.  Both NFL and College football.  I went to an SEC school so every weekend consisted of college football on Saturdays and NFL football on Sundays.

 As a female leader in the male-dominated sports industry, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

I grew up with an older brother so I have always been comfortable being around a lot of guys.  I think any industry presents its challenges and you learn how to navigate them and most importantly, you learn what you let affect you.  I learned pretty quickly to not care about things I can’t control. I work my hardest and come as prepared as possible because those are the things I CAN control.

How do you balance your love for fashion and entertainment with your passion for football and sports reporting? 

There’s such a natural crossover between the two.  For example, Travis Kelce just did an incredible job hosting SNL, players have fashion lines now, and they definitely all care about what they wear coming off the buses for gamedays.  Look, fashion is a way to express yourself and get creative. I love to see the players leaning into that space. 

 In what ways do you use your platform to promote women’s empowerment and eliminate the stigma that women and football don’t mix? 

There were so many women before me who paved the way and made it so it wasn’t abnormal to see a female host and reporter covering sports.  I give them the credit for being pioneers and paving the way to make it possible for me to be in the position I am in today.  Now, it’s up to our generation to take it a step further and find ways to continue the growth because there is still progress to be made.  I think the best way we can do that is by empowering one another. We need to stop thinking of other females in the business as competition and start outwardly supporting each other more. I love that we are starting to see more and more of that. There is room for all of us.  When I first started off in the industry 10 years ago, it was very competitive amongst females.  You often feel like you’re pitted against each other.  Now, you are starting to see more support from one another.  I want to be someone that younger girls can come to for advice. I want to be an advocate and an ally for other females in the industry. We shouldn’t be each other’s competition — we should be outwardly supporting one another. I want to show that you can be successful while supporting and empowering one another. A win for one female is a win for all of us.

Can you share a particular moment in your career that was especially memorable or impactful for you?

I don’t know if there’s been one defining moment.  Definitely landing my full-time job at NFL Network was huge but there’s been a lot of “monumental steps” throughout.  I got my own show about 2.5 years into working at NFL Network, “ICYMI all 32”, my first time on Game Day Morning, NFL Honors, I could name several “moments” that stand out to me.  Sometimes this business feels like you move one step forward and then two steps back but I think that’s what keeps you driven and working hard.  I never feel “comfortable” or “complacent” I always feel like I’m working towards more goals. 

 How do you stay motivated and continue to grow and learn in your field?

When you love what you do, I think you become obsessed with the challenge of getting better, being the best version of yourself, and finding new ways to deliver content to your viewers.  I always want to be one percent better than I was the day before. 

You are also an advocate for healthy living. How do you prioritize your health and well-being, and how do you encourage others to do the same?

Walking, eating clean (except for my enormous sweet tooth), and phone breaks.  I always say the best part about living in LA is being close o the water. Nothing clears my head more than a long walk on the beach. 

 Can you talk about your experience as the youngest on-air talent the NFL Network has ever hired and how it has impacted your career?

I’m no longer the youngest, I’ve been here for 7 years now but when it happened and still to this day I’m just so beyond grateful and appreciative of the opportunity.  I don’t take it lightly.  It’s taught me so many lessons. How to be creative and provide value.  When I came in, I couldn’t compete with the incredible reporters and hosts who have 15 years of experience with me so I had to get creative and find ways where I could add value.  Social media was really how I initially found my niche and way of making an impact. 

What advice would you give to young women who aspire to pursue a career in the sports industry?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be prepared for a lot of rejection but don’t allow it to discourage you, use it as motivation to work harder and get better.  “It doesn’t matter how many “no’s” preceded it, all you need is one “yes” to make your dreams come true”

What are your future goals and aspirations, both in your career and personal life?

Who knows! I’d love to continue growing in my career into bigger roles but also want to make it a priority to be content with where I am on the journey.  It’s natural to want more and to find ourselves comparing our careers to others but it’s also important to enjoy the process.  Embrace the challenges and ups and downs.  There are no “ups” without “downs”.  No two career paths are ever the same, so instead of trying to follow in someone else’s footsteps, be focused on making your steps the one you care about.  As one of my favourite podcasters, Tinx says, “Comparison is the thief of joy”.

 

Photographer: Kelsey Hale @kelsey_hale