Michael James Florio, born on June 8, 1965, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to a blue-collar family—his uncle was killed in a coal mining accident—graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School and earned two engineering degrees from Carnegie Mellon University before obtaining a law degree from West Virginia University in 1991. Initially working as a lawyer, Florio transitioned to sports journalism, launching NFLtalk.com in June 2000, which evolved into the influential ProFootballTalk.com that he founded, owns, and edits. As an NBC Sports NFL insider, he contributes to Sunday coverage and hosts the daily talk show PFT Live on Peacock alongside Chris Simms. Known for his aggressive reporting style and legal acumen in sports commentary, Florio has established himself as a key voice in NFL media, including public disputes with figures like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.