William F. 'Will' Leitch (born October 10, 1975, in Mattoon, Illinois) is an American journalist, author, and editor renowned for his contributions to sports and cultural commentary. He is the founder of Deadspin, a Gawker Media sports blog that revolutionized online sports coverage, and served as its inaugural editor-in-chief from 2005 to 2008, when he transitioned leadership to A.J. Daulerio. Leitch attended Illinois State University, graduating in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in English before relocating to New York City to pursue journalism. His work extends beyond sports to cultural commentary, with bylines appearing in prestigious outlets like The New York Times, GQ, The Washington Post, and NBC News. He has authored books such as 'God Save the Fan: Why People Really Love (or Hate) Sports' (2008) and 'Look Out, World! It's a Bull's Eye!' (2015). Currently, Leitch serves as a national correspondent for MLB.com, contributing editor at New York magazine, and co-host of the film criticism podcast Grierson & Leitch. Residing in Athens, Georgia, with his family, he continues to blend sports analysis, cultural critique, and film reviews, maintaining his status as a pivotal figure in modern media.