NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV) has announced six-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and popular, veteran Chicago media personality Lou Canellis will join the NBC 5 News team as its main sports anchor beginning today, Monday, January 26. The announcement was made by Sally Ramirez, Senior Vice President of News, NBC 5 Chicago / Telemundo Chicago.
Canellis will anchor NBC 5 News sports segments Monday-Thursday at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., along with Sundays at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. In addition, Canellis will host NBC 5 Chicago’s weekly sports highlights and features stories program, Sports Sunday, at 10:30 p.m.
Canellis joins the station’s primary NBC 5 News team featuring anchors Allison Rosati, Stefan Holt and chief meteorologist Brant Miller, along with NBC 5 Chicago’s established team of on-air and behind-the-scenes professionals.
“Lou has established himself as one of the most respected and beloved voices in Chicago sports media history,” said Ramirez. “His knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm are second to none, and we couldn’t be happier to have him join our team of all‑stars at NBC 5.”
“As a Chicago kid who grew up in Oak Lawn, I told my dad my dream was to be a household name in my hometown — to be the next Mark Giangreco, Tim Weigel, or Johnny Morris,” said Canellis. “Joining the NBC 5 Chicago team is simply a dream come true for me. The chance to work with Chicago TV legends such as Allison Rosati, Stefan Holt, Brant Miller and Chuck Goudie, local news leaders like (President & GM) Kevin Cross and Sally Ramirez, and so many others is like joining the best All-Star team in any sport. I can’t wait to bring my loyalty to our local teams and my passion for the work I love to NBC 5 Chicago.”
In addition to his primary sports anchor responsibilities, Canellis and Rosati will co-anchor NBC 5 Chicago’s half-hour, primetime lead-in Olympics highlights and features program, Olympic Zone, throughout the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games. The show will air Monday-Saturday at 6:30 PM beginning Sat, Feb. 7.
Canellis, one of Chicago’s most popular local media personalities throughout his 40-plus-year career, most recently spent the past 16 years as primary sports anchor at FOX 32 Chicago (WFLD-TV). Canellis also hosted the station’s nightly sports program, Chicago Sports Tonight, along with its Chicago Bears game day coverage.
Canellis gained early respect from legions of Chicago sports fans in the early 1990’s as he was the executive producer and pre-game/halftime host for the Chicago Bulls Radio Network & the Chicago White Sox Radio Network, heard locally in Chicago at that time on WMAQ AM 670.
From 1993-97, Canellis quickly became a household name in Chicago when he joined the regional sports television network, SportsChannel, handling pregame and postgame duties, along with being an in-game sideline reporter, which featured his exclusive, on-court postgame interviews with Bulls/NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Canellis also spent seven years as a sports talk host at WMVP AM 1000 (1996–2003) and eight years (2000-2008) as an entertainment reporter on ABC 7 Chicago’s (WLS-TV) 190 North. He additionally handled college basketball play‑by‑play for ESPN for 13 seasons (1998-2011) and anchored Summer Olympics programming for Westwood One (Atlanta 1996) and ABC Radio (Sydney 2000).
In addition to his media industry accolades, Canellis has also been honored for his philanthropic efforts, proudly serving on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities and as a Founding Member of The Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, which provides support to fund research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Canellis is also a dedicated “Real Men Wear Pink” Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and a supporter of “Bank The Blue,” whosemission is to fund training programs and mental health services for Illinois Law Enforcement Officers. In addition, Canellis has used his broadcasting platform and skill set to be a volunteer emcee at countless charitable fundraisers supporting thousands of individuals and families in need.
Canellis earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago in Speech/Radio-TV-Film Concentration. He resides in Chicago with his wife Monica and daughter Gia.
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