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Matt Napolitano, a writer and FOX News audio anchor, tragically passed away at the age of 33 after a short illness.
In 2015, Napolitano first joined FOX as a writer for the SiriusXM news channel “FOX News Headlines 24/7.” His exceptional abilities as a writer, producer, and broadcaster were on full display there. He went on to become an even more successful sports reporter for the network.
Having left FOX News Audio for a short time, Napolitano is back as a reporter and anchor for updates. Across all FOX Audio platforms, he contributed as an anchor, writer, and producer.
Additionally, he provided the most recent sports news on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast” on the FOX Business Network. He collaborated closely with FOX News Edge, the network’s affiliate news service, to voice packages for different affiliates.
“Matt covered a wide range of sports-related headlines on the FOX Business Network over the last few years, including the Walton family’s plan to purchase the Denver Broncos in 2022, and, most recently, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury and potential comeback in late November. In November, Matt joined FOX Business host Neil Cavuto to discuss MLB’s decision to host the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, following backlash over a set of voting laws in the state,” Fox News reported.
“Matt is survived by his husband, Ricky, whom he married this past May. FOX News also recently lost Director of Chicago Bureau of Operations Adam Petlin, who passed away on December 23 at the age of 58 after nearly 30 years with FOX News. He is survived by his wife, Lauren, as well as his 18-year-old daughter, Ava, and his 14-year-old son, Luca,” the outlet added.
Ricky Whitcomb wrote on X: “With a heavy heart I have to share that my husband @MattNapolitano passed away yesterday morning. He loved his job and he loved bringing the news to your radios and televisions.”
Napolitano was “an honest journalist who truly cared about facts. You can thank him for the last-minute Jets win today,” Whitcomb added.
With a heavy heart I have to share that my husband @MattNapolitano passed away yesterday morning. He loved his job and he loved bringing the news to your radios and televisions. An honest journalist who truly cared about facts. You can thank him for the last minute Jets win today pic.twitter.com/I4fszUMAeh
— ricky (@whickywhit) December 25, 2023
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott paid tribute to Napolitano in a memo to staffers.
“Matt did everything from anchoring to writing and producing for our audio platforms and loved being able to work in the journalism field that he trained for his entire life,” Scott wrote in the memo.
“Jeopardy!” was a show that Napolitano loved. According to Variety, he finally fulfilled his lifelong ambition in 2020 by competing on the show.
In 2016, he made it to the bonus round on “Wheel of Fortune” as well.
Also mourned by Fox News was Adam Petlin, who had been serving as director of operations at the Chicago bureau for the cable network.
After a protracted illness, Petlin died on Saturday. He was the leader of the first Fox News camera crew that reported from the site of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He was in his 58th year.
“Natural leader” Petlin was, according to Scott, “highly regarded” by the many reporters and news anchors who had the good fortune to work with him on “nearly every major news story of the last 27 years.”
