Craig Heist, a journalist who covered sports in the D.C. and Baltimore region for over 30 years, dies at 66

Craig Heist, a D.C.-area sports journalist who became a mainstay inside the press boxes of the region’s professional sports teams, has died. He was 66. Heist, reports Inside Radio, “served as an anchor, reporter, and game day broadcaster for Audacy’s “106.7 The Fan” WJFK-FM.

“Heist reported on sports in the D.C. and Baltimore region for over 30 years, covering almost all of the area’s major sports teams. He had just covered the Washington Capitals’ NHL season opener on Wednesday (Oct 8) and was set to attend the Washington Commanders game on tonight.”

“106.7 The Fan is saddened by the passing of our longtime friend and colleague Craig Heist,” the station posted on Facebook. “Craig was a longtime anchor and reporter for 106.7 The Fan and postgame host on the Nationals Radio Network since 2013, and had a storied career at stations across the Mid-Atlantic region. But above all, Craig was a husband, friend, and sports lover. Press boxes across the DMV will never be the same without his wide smile and infectious laugh. We will keep his family in our thoughts.”

Heist previously spent 15 years at Hubbard’s all-news WTOP in Washington, DC. WTOP Sports anchor Dave Preston was alongside Heist for the Capitals game on Wednesday, the station reports. He said his former co-worker was in “good spirits” and ready for another season.

PHOTO: Baltimore Orioles