Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his “long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football,” Sam Farmer has covered the NFL for 25 seasons. He’s a two-time winner of California Sportswriter of the Year and first place for beat writing by Associated Press Sports Editors, and has had unique assignments such as climbing Mount Rainier with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, traveling with an officiating crew, spending a week behind the scenes with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, sitting in the “Monday Night Football” booth, piloting the Goodyear blimp and watching games on Sunday alongside John Madden. Farmer, a 1988 graduate of Occidental College, began his career at small papers in the Pacific Northwest before moving on to the San Jose Mercury News, where he was an Oakland Raiders beat writer for five seasons. At various times, he has also been a beat writer covering the NBA, PGA Tour, and college football and basketball.
Latest From This Author
The Costa Mesa City Council is poised to approve the Raiders joining four other NFL teams holding training camps in Southern California.
May 7, 2024
With college football players increasingly choosing to not leave school early because of NIL, the quality of players in the NFL draft is taking a hit.
April 27, 2024
USC produced the top pick of the NFL draft in Caleb Williams, and UCLA produced the first defensive player selected in Laiatu Latu, taken 15th.
April 26, 2024
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is selected first overall by the Chicago Bears to lead a trio of quarterback picks at the top of the 2024 NFL draft class.
April 25, 2024
The Bears have tried and failed to secure a franchise quarterback for years, and Chicago wonders whether Caleb Williams or J.J. McCarthy is the right choice.
April 25, 2024
L.A. Times NFL writer Sam Farmer predicts quarterbacks will be taken 1-2-3 atop the draft Thursday after a surprise trade happens in the third spot.
April 24, 2024
Reporters who cover their teams on a daily basis predict how the first round of the 2024 NFL draft will unfold in The Times’ beat writers’ mock draft.
April 22, 2024
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, delivers another masterful performance at Augusta National to claim his second Masters title.
April 14, 2024
After shooting a dismal 82 on Saturday at the Masters, Tiger Woods makes it through his second tournament since the start of 2023.
April 14, 2024
A lot of people don’t know about the silver trophy, a model of the clubhouse that weighs about 20 pounds and is the size of a modest birthday cake.
April 13, 2024