Baltimore native John F. Steadman (1927–2001) reported on sports in Baltimore longer than any other writer or broadcaster. He began his journalism career as a part-time reporter with the Baltimore News-Post and later wrote for the Baltimore News American, where he served as sports editor for twenty-eight years. In 1986 he joined the Baltimore Sun as a sports columnist. 

Steadman was one of the few sportswriters to have been a professional baseball player (a catcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system) and a pro-football executive (assistant manager and publicity director of the Baltimore Colts). He was president of the Pro Football Writers Association of America and represented Baltimore on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Steadman is the author of From Colts to Ravens: A Behind-the Scenes Look at Baltimore Professional Football.