More on Jeff Schultz

Jeff Schultz has worked at the Journal-Constitution since 1989. The Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) named him one of the top 10 columnists in the nation in 2008 among top circulation newspapers. Most recently, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) honored him in 2011 and 2010 as the top writer in the state of Georgia. He also has been honored in the past by the APSE, Cox Media and Georgia Press Association, among others.

Schultz grew up in Los Angeles as one of the few sports fans who actually arrived at games on time and didn’t leave early. Watching the Rams play at the old (and still standing) Coliseum, reading the columns of the late Jim Murray and seeing the Odd Couple’s Oscar Madison once pull a half-eaten sandwich out of his bathrobe in the morning inspired him to pursue a career in sports writing.

Prior to coming to the AJC, Schultz worked for the San Jose Mercury News and the Los Angeles Daily News, covering the NFL, the NHL and the NBA. He co-authored a book on the San Francisco 49ers, “Team of the Decade,” which remains the highest-selling book he has ever written.

He began his career with a part-time job for the Santa Monica Evening Outlook, earning $5 per story to cover high school football games. His first assignment led to one coach initially claiming he had been misquoted after a loss, when the story included the post-game comment: “Either we’re the worst football team in the league or I’m the worst coach.” Of course, the coach later admitted the quote was accurate. Schultz has had trust issues ever since.

Email Jeff Schultz at jschultz@ajc.com