Death threats included his home address; Paul Finebaum opens up about receiving them and the concern they caused

A career shaped by criticism

Finebaum discussed the threats on The Awful Announcing Podcast, speaking with host Brandon Contes. He said his criticism of Alabama’s struggles, first as a columnist and reporter at the Birmingham Post-Herald and later as a radio host, brought personal backlash.

He described a climate in which people may risk being ostracized for reporting objectively rather than acting as cheerleaders. Finebaum said college football coverage had returned to an earlier atmosphere in which that pressure was familiar.

Threats during Alabama coverage

Finebaum said death threats began in the mid-to-late 1980s, when he covered Alabama after Bear Bryant. He traced his sharp commentary to his upbringing and influences, including his New York family ties, following New York sports and media, and admiration for Howard Cosell.

He said he had not known, when he arrived in Alabama, that local coverage was expected to follow different conventions. That approach, he recalled, caused problems.

Online warning prompted security

Finebaum described another threat around 2008 or 2009, as internet use was expanding. Someone posted his home address with a MapQuest map and warned, “You will die on Saturday night,” he said.

Finebaum said he turned the matter over to authorities. For about two weeks, a security guard followed him for the radio station where he worked; he joked that he tried to escape the escort by running a red light. He said the threat did concern him.

Threats remain part of the job

Finebaum said he has faced a few other threats, including one from a coach’s father. He added that ESPN provides security, though he rarely thinks about it. He said he might have felt more concerned about attending LSU during the first week of the season. Despite the incidents, Finebaum continues to offer pointed opinions and criticism of prominent figures in college football and the SEC.