Jay Onrait: Net Worth, Salary, Wife, Height, Age & More

Jay Onrait is a Canadian sports broadcaster, television personality, and author best known as the longtime host of TSN's SportsCentre. Known for his witty humor and on-air chemistry with fellow broadcaster Dan O'Toole, Onrait has become one of Canada's most recognizable sports media personalities.

He has also worked for Fox Sports 1 in the United States and is the author of two bestselling memoirs.

Quick Facts About Jay Onrait

●      Full Name: Jay Michael Onrait

●      Date of Birth: August 29, 1974

●      Age: 51

●      Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

●      Nationality: Canadian

●      Education: Toronto Metropolitan University (Radio and Television Arts)

●      Profession: Sports Broadcaster, Television Personality, Author

●      Employer: TSN

●      Wife: Chobi Liang

●      Children: Two

●      Height: 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)

●      Estimated Salary: Not publicly disclosed; reported to be over CAD $300,000 annually during his partnership with Dan O'Toole

●      Estimated Net Worth: US$2–3 million (estimated)

Age

Jay Michael Onrait was born on August 29, 1974, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is 51 years old. He spent much of his childhood in Boyle and Athabasca, Alberta, where his father worked as a pharmacist.

Early Life and Education

After graduating from Edwin Parr Composite School in 1992, Onrait briefly attended the University of Alberta, where he initially considered following his father's profession in pharmacy.

He later transferred to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson Polytechnic University), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Television Arts in 1999. While studying there, he worked as an editorial assistant at TSN, laying the foundation for his broadcasting career.

Biography

Onrait's broadcasting career spans nearly three decades. He has worked in local television, national Canadian sports media, and American sports broadcasting. His unique blend of sports knowledge, comedy, and storytelling has earned him a loyal following.

In addition to television, he has written two bestselling books:

●      Anchorboy (2013)

●      Number Two: More Short Tales from a Very Tall Man (2015)

Both books draw on his experiences in broadcasting and his distinctive sense of humor.

Career

Early Broadcasting Career

Onrait joined TSN in 1996 as an editorial assistant while attending university. He later worked as:

●      Sports Director at CFSK-TV in Saskatoon

●      Host of The Big Breakfast on A-Channel Winnipeg

●      Host of NHL on the Fly and Molson That's Hockey 2 on NHL Network

These roles helped establish him as one of Canada's rising sports broadcasters.

TSN and SportsCentre

In 2002, Onrait returned to TSN, and in 2003 he began co-hosting SportsCentre with Dan O'Toole. Their entertaining style made them one of Canadian television's most beloved sports duos.

The pair also co-hosted Olympic coverage and launched The Jay and Dan Podcast, which became popular among sports fans.

Fox Sports 1

In 2013, Onrait and O'Toole moved to the United States to launch Fox Sports Live on the newly created Fox Sports 1 (FS1) network. They remained there until 2017 before returning to Canada.

Return to TSN

In 2017, the pair returned to TSN to host SC with Jay and Dan. After Dan O'Toole left the program in 2021, it was rebranded as SC with Jay Onrait, which Onrait continues to host.

Wife

Jay Onrait is married to Chobi Liang, a former TSN publicist.

The couple married in October 2013 after several years together. Before marrying Liang, Onrait was married to Darcy Modin, though that marriage ended in divorce in 2002.

Children

Jay Onrait and Chobi Liang have two children together.

Although Onrait occasionally shares humorous stories about family life, he generally keeps his children out of the public spotlight to protect their privacy.

Height

Jay Onrait is 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall, making him one of the tallest personalities in Canadian sports broadcasting. His height has even inspired the subtitle of his second memoir, More Short Tales from a Very Tall Man.

Salary

TSN has not publicly disclosed Jay Onrait's current salary.

However, multiple media reports have indicated that during his time working with Dan O'Toole, the pair reportedly earned more than CAD $300,000 annually. More recent estimates suggest his compensation as one of TSN's top anchors likely remains in that range or higher, though no official figure has been released.

Net Worth

Various entertainment and celebrity-finance websites estimate his net worth to be between approximately US$2 million and US$3 million, reflecting his long career in television, bestselling books, podcasting, and speaking engagements. These figures are estimates and have not been verified by Onrait.

Awards and Recognition

Among his career achievements:

●      Gemini Award winner for Best Sportscaster (2011)

●      Bestselling author of Anchorboy and Number Two

●      Longtime host of TSN's flagship sports news programs

●      Regular contributor to Olympic and major sporting event coverage

Books

Jay Onrait has written two bestselling memoirs:

●      Anchorboy (2013)

●      Number Two: More Short Tales from a Very Tall Man (2015)

Both books chronicle his experiences in sports broadcasting with humor and behind-the-scenes stories.

Conclusion

Jay Onrait has become one of Canada's most influential sports broadcasters thanks to his engaging presentation style, sharp wit, and decades of experience in television. From his iconic partnership with Dan O'Toole to his successful solo hosting role on SC with Jay Onrait, he has remained a favorite among sports fans.

Alongside his broadcasting career, his bestselling books and contributions to sports media have cemented his reputation as one of Canada's premier sportscasters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What happened to SC with Jay Onrait?

SC with Jay and Dan premiered on TSN in 2017 after Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole returned from Fox Sports 1. In February 2021, the show was placed on hiatus after Bell Media laid off Dan O'Toole during company-wide staffing cuts. TSN later rebranded the program as Jay On SC, with Jay Onrait continuing as the host.

2. How much does Jay Onrait make?

Jay Onrait's exact salary has not been publicly disclosed by TSN. However, media reports have estimated that he and Dan O'Toole earned more than US$300,000 annually during their time together, while other estimates place his annual salary well above the average for TSN sports anchors. Because TSN has never confirmed these figures, they should be treated as estimates rather than official numbers.

3. Who was Jay Onrait's old partner?

Jay Onrait's longtime on-air broadcasting partner was Dan O'Toole. The pair co-hosted SportsCentre on TSN from 2003 to 2013, later worked together on Fox Sports Live at Fox Sports 1, and reunited in 2017 to host SC with Jay and Dan. Their chemistry and humor made them one of Canada's most popular sports broadcasting duos.

4. What is Jay Onrait famous for?

Jay Onrait is famous for being a Canadian sports broadcaster, television personality, and author. He is best known for hosting TSN's SportsCentre, his long-running partnership with Dan O'Toole, his work on Fox Sports Live, and his bestselling books Anchorboy and Number Two. He is widely recognized for his humorous and unconventional style of sports broadcasting.