Bill Simmons, the founder and CEO of The Ringer’s sports and pop culture website, is married to Kari Crichton and has mentioned her in his columns as the sports gal.
He first gained attention with his website as the Boston sports guy. The married couple has two children and continues their journey, supporting each other in their respective fields.
Bill credits David Halberstam’s book The Breaks of the Game as the most formative development in his sportswriting career.
After graduating with a master’s degree in print journalism from Boston University, he began his website, BostonSportsGuy.com, which averaged 10,000 readers and 45,000 hits per day in 2001.
Afterward, ESPN offered him the opportunity to write three guest columns in 2001, and he became one of the site’s most popular columnists. Later, ESPN gave him his section of ESPN.com’s Page 2.
However, ESPN didn’t renew his contract in 2015. He had worked as a comedy writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live in April 2003, but left it in the spring of 2004.
Similarly, he was involved in Grantland and HBO.
Bill Simmons’s Wife Is A Witty Force Behind His Success
Bill Simmons and Kari Crichton started their relationship long before the sportswriter became a media mogul. They married in 1999 and have two children, Zoe and Benjamin.
Kari grew up in upstate New York and graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1994.
She didn’t pursue journalism professionally but made a writing debut in 2007 with a series of Bachelor episode reviews. Readers still fondly remember her witty, offbeat addition to Bill’s platform.
The Bachelorette is rehashing old date ideas. We've already seen the Hollywood sign date & the closed-down bridge date! Come on!
— The Sports Gal (@sportsgal33) June 4, 2013
Kari supported his budding career when he was carving out his niche as The Boston Sports Guy. The married couple moved across the country in 2002 when Bill was a comedy writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! TV show.
Although she maintains a low public profile, her influence on his life and work has been profound.
Bill affectionately refers to her as The Sports Gal in his writing and podcasts, a nod to her sharp wit and keen insights. He often mentions her viewpoint on everything from sports to entertainment.
Kari’s humorous and insightful commentary has peppered his columns and episodes, offering fans a refreshing perspective whether she’s poking fun at fantasy football or weighing in on pop culture.
Bill did a recent podcast with “TMR” and I didn’t know who this was. Bill said it stands for “Talented Mr. Roto” and TMR’s job is to follow fake sports. That’s it? He should be docked like 50 points each week!!!! I just picture TMR blowing a flute and dispensing wisdom like the Pied Piper while thousands of League of Dorkers hang on his every word. And I guarantee those League of Dorkers all have girlfriends currently living in the Niagara Falls area.
Kari Simmons
Furthermore, Kari, the daughter of James Sr. and Sandra, grew up with his two brothers, Jim and Joseph Crichton, in Pleasant Valley, New York.
Sadly, Jim passed away in 2011 at 49 in Suffern, New York.
Bill Simmons’s Kids Are Blending Sports, Media And Family Passion
Bill and Kari Simmons are proud parents to two talented and passionate children: Zoe Simmons, born in 2005, and Benjamin Oakley Simmons, born in 2007.
Their children have embraced a love for sports like their father. They are carving out their unique paths, blending athletics, media, and personal ambition.
Zoe inherited her father’s dual love of sports and storytelling. She continues to balance her athletic drive with her academic pursuits in communication at Emerson College.
A standout soccer player at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, she racked up accolades like Rookie of the Year, 1st-Team All-League, and MVP, proving herself as competitive as she is skilled.
Her talent extends beyond the field. Following Bill’s media footsteps, she co-hosts Teen Patrol, a podcast with her best friend Ella, where they break down the latest trends in teen culture with humor and insight.
Whether dissecting pop culture or discussing sports, Zoe’s voice is one to watch, just like her father’s decades ago.
On the other hand, Benjamin Oakley Simmons, affectionately known as Ben, is making his mark as a varsity football player at Harvard-Westlake School.
He shares Bill’s obsession with sports, whether breaking down NFL plays, debating UFC fights, or catching NBA games together. The two are a familiar duo at live events, bonding over shared passions and creating memories far beyond fandom.
There’s even a fun family lore around Ben’s initials: B.O.S.
Some speculated it was a nod to the Simmons family’s Boston sports devotion. But given how often the Simmons crew represents their hometown teams, it’s a fitting name either way.
The Simmons family has a deep, unshakable connection through sports, whether cheering from the sidelines, analyzing games at the dinner table, or celebrating each other’s victories.
Bill may be a sports media mogul, but his proudest role is as a dad. Zoe and Ben, carrying forward his passion, are in great hands with the Simmons legacy.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- William John Simmons III, the son of William Simmons and Jan Corbo, was born on September 25, 1969, in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
- His parents divorced when he was 9, and his father, a school administrator, married a doctor, Molly Clark.
- As of 2025, he has amassed an estimated net worth of $100 million and earns $7 million annually.
