Like many of us who cover athletics for a living, sports influencer and San Francisco 49ers beat reporter Tracy Sandler comes from a family who loves athletics. Her California upbringing led her to fall in love with teams like the 49ers and Los Angeles Dodgers, but also, sports in general. Since then, Sandler has brought her professional career full-circle.
Since 2015, Tracy has been the CEO and founder of Fangirl Sports Network—a digital platform created to champion confidence for women in sports and fans by giving a domain that is both receptive and relatable. Whether you are a diehard or someone just getting interested through other channels, FGSN and Tracy provide an array of sports content that is informative, engaging, creative and very fashionable.
Sandler has been covering the 49ers for nearly a decade via her social platforms and at Fangirl Sports Network, which has now grown into one of the leading sports platforms for women.
This Southern California-girl-turned-Michigan woman (spoiler alert: she loves her Wolverines) graciously made time to chat with Playboy’s Gabriel Santiago in the thick of football season. Prior to the Niners’ Week 6 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, Tracy shares her experiences creating Fangirl, navigating a career in the NFL and doing it all with a flare of style.
Playboy: Let’s start at the beginning. Tell me about where you grew up and your origin story with sports.
Tracy Sandler: I grew up in L.A. Everybody in my family was into sports—my mom, my dad, my brothers, my grandfather. Everybody was into sports. We had a close family friend that one day called me her good-luck charm for the Los Angeles Lakers and that got me really into the Lakers. Then I discovered Joe Montana and became a huge San Francisco 49ers fan. I’m not a fan anymore since I’m now a beat reporter and that changes things, but I grew up rooting for the Niners. We’ve just always been a really big sports family. It’s always been a part of my life.
Playboy: Love it. Did that lead to you attending the University of Michigan?
Tracy Sandler: Well, my older brother went there. I knew I wanted to go away for college. I wanted to go somewhere with a true college experience. Michigan had rolling admissions. I had planned on applying early admission to Penn and then I went to visit my brother for a weekend in Ann Arbor. We went to visit him as a family before, but this time was just me and I fell in love with the place and that was that!
Playboy: Who have been a few of your most memorable athlete interviews?
Tracy Sandler: The 49ers have a great group of guys, so I’ve been fortunate regarding who I’ve interviewed. I had 49ers’ cornerback Charvarius Ward on my podcast which was a fantastic interview. Nick Bosa is always a great interview. I do a piece of content called “Niners Unplugged,” where my followers get to know a different side of the players. Nick Bosa, George Kittle and Jauan Jennings are always fun participants, but all-in-all this is a great team of players to talk to. I’ve also interviewed Mina Kimes, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Amy Trask, MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Keiana Martin among many other incredible women in the industry, all of whom I have learned so much from.
Playboy: What’s it like working in a male-dominated industry such as sports media?
Tracy Sandler: I’ve been really lucky because the 49ers are my first and only professional sports beat. First of all, I cover a team that is in the middle of Silicon Valley, so they understand the digital world. At the time, when I came in with mainly a digital platform, the Niners were open to that. The organization is also very supportive all-around but especially of women in the industry. And the beat was very open. This is my ninth season covering the team, but when I first started, my platform was still “49ers Fangirl.” So I came into the media workroom with guys like Matt Maiocco, Matt Barrows, Cam Inman, Tim Kawakami, Nick Wagoner, Jennifer Lee Chan — people who had been covering this team and the league for such a long time. All of them were so welcoming. It’s been a positive experience for me. Of course, there’s things we all deal with as women, but for the most part I’ve been very lucky.
Playboy: Not only are you thriving as a sports influencer, but you’ve also managed to build a media empire. What does it feel like to set that type of example for other women looking to pursue sports media?
Tracy Sandler: That feels great, I will say that. I started this from scratch. Within a year, the 49ers credentialed me, which was a big deal because they don’t credential everybody. And now for the last nine seasons, I’ve been one of 8-10 people that’s with the team pretty much on a daily basis. That part of it is really cool. And the “Fangirl” part, it feels amazing. It’s a team effort, though. I have incredible women and people that work for and with me, so I can’t take all the credit for it, especially at Fangirl Sports Network. The social media is run by two incredible women: Bayley and Kelsey. I’m involved, but they do such a great job that I want them to have their credit as well. It does feel cool to have created something. I did a panel before the season started. It was moderated by Lindsey Pallares with me and Kay Adams. All of these women after the panel came up to me and shared their stores of how they loved and related to Fangirl. It was a cool thing to see. I was at a Dodger game last year with my dad and this woman stopped me to say, ‘Excuse me, are you Tracy? Can I get a photo with you? I’ve been following Fangirl since the beginning!’ I loved it. For this to happen at a Dodger game, with all the people there, that meant a lot to me.
Playboy: What are some particular aspects of FGSN that you’re proud of?
Tracy Sandler: Doing relatable content for women does feel really good especially now that there is more emphasis on female fans. Fangirl was a part of that. I wanted to create a place where female fans felt comfortable being whatever fan they wanted to be. No matter if they just liked the lifestyle aspects or were really huge fans that wanted breaking news and analysis, it was important to me to cover both.
Playboy: That’s really inspiring. How does Fangirl differ today?
Tracy Sandler: We started with a Fangirl model by having “Fangirls” cover every team. We’ve since changed that model but I think it created a network and community of fans. Our growth over the last year has been absolutely incredible. It’s been a lot of fun and it does feel good to create something like that, but it’s not just me creating it. I have an incredible team. And the people who follow along and engage are such a big part of creating it, as well.
Playboy: Who are some women in sports that you personally look up to/have been influenced by?
Tracy Sandler: Amy Trask is one. Here’s a story from when I first started and was still “49ers Fangirl”—a family friend knew Amy and thought she’d be a good person for me to meet. Trask met me for coffee before I was even a reporter. We hadn’t even launched yet. She met me for a coffee and offered amazing advice. I really look up to her for that, so much. I look up to MJ Acosta-Ruiz—I think she is just absolutely incredible. MJ happens to also be a very good friend, but I think she is amazing. Joy Taylor—incredible. Erin Andrews is such a big part of this. She’s created “Wear by EA” and her own empire. Pam Oliver. Lisa Salters. They’ve done an incredible job. There’s so many women that aren’t forward facing, who aren’t on camera that have done incredible things. Hannah Gordon is someone who used to work for the 49ers as their general counsel. She is an incredible human and woman in the sports industry. There are many that I look up to and I’m thankful that so many of those women have made it easier for us.
Playboy: That is such a strong list. You cover the San Francisco 49ers like a glove. What are some outstanding takeaways for this team as we enter the middle weeks of the season?
Tracy Sandler: Some takeaways are that the NFL is really tough. Nick Bosa said it best a couple weeks ago, ‘No matter how talented you are, you have to play well on Sundays.’ That’s true of … every team in the league. The Niners have had a tough time with injuries this season. 2023 was really kind to them on the injury front. 2024 has not been so kind to them there, but I do believe they are still one of the top two to three teams in the NFC, if not the league.
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Playboy: Which players are standing out to this point?
Tracy Sandler: Brock Purdy is the real deal. Look at how well he’s played on weeks without his weapons. Jauan Jennings is having a heck of a season. He’s always been a really good player and been so important in the blocking game. He was probably going to be the Super Bowl MVP if the 49ers won. We’ve seen just how talented and crucial to the offense he is in these first few games, and that will continue. Defensively, the team misses linebacker Dre Greenlaw. I think that’s been under-discussed. They are also without Javon Hargrave on the defensive line. They will have to continue to improve in defending the run. The 49ers have a new defensive coordinator and it takes some time to get used to that. Their playmakers are going to have to make plays. Leonard Floyd has not been the pass rusher yet that they hoped he was going to be, but it’s still early. Also, keep an eye on cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, who are both in contract years. Lenoir is one of those players that is a true game-changer, no matter what his stats say in any particular game. Oh, and Kalia Davis—he is going to be a very important piece on the defensive line.
Playboy: Sticking with Brock Purdy, the past 18 quarterbacks who lost their Super Bowl debut as a starter have not returned to the big game. Is “Mr. Irrelevant” the QB to eventually buck that trend?
Tracy Sandler: I do think that he will buck that trend. He has a tremendous coach in Kyle Shanahan. Next season will look very different, but as I said earlier, Purdy has really proven that he’s “the guy.” He will definitely get back to a Super Bowl. I don’t know if it will be this year but he will definitely be back. I think he will win a Super Bowl, but it’s just going to be a matter of when that happens. Football is tough. Coach Kyle always says about the NFL playoffs, ‘It’s not a best-of-seven series. It’s not necessarily the best team that wins. It’s the team that plays the best for three-and-a-half hours.’ That’s the difference between football and every other sport … except March Madness!
Playboy: Regarding San Francisco’s upcoming Thursday Night Football clash in Seattle, what on-field matchups are you eyeing?
Tracy Sandler: D.K. Metcalf versus Charvarius Ward is one. It’s something that became a big storyline last year in their last TNF game against the Seahawks. I think that Ward and Metcalf are always a really good matchup. Also, the 49ers’ secondary will need to keep an eye on Tyler Lockett. He has still got it. And look out for Nick Bosa going against Seattle’s offensive line. Bringing pressure to Geno Smith will be huge in this game. As much respect as I have for Geno, he can get pressured into making some bad throws. With that said, we saw him make a heck of a throw under pressure to the previously mentioned Lockett against the Lions on Monday Night Football.
Playboy: You are also known for your fashion on the field and in front of the camera. Who else do you admire that’s bringing great looks to the sports industry?
Tracy Sandler: It’s hard for me to pick, because so many people in the sports industry have made fashion such a fun part of game day. I love having people vote on my gameday outfit—that’s been a really fun bit of content. I think it’s so cool. It should be fun. It is a game, after all. We should be having fun with it. The fact that women and men also are having so much fun with fashion, I just love that it’s become such a part of the industry. It’s about being confident and having fun with what you’re wearing, and ultimately, being confident in yourself.
Playboy: Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to make history by winning three consecutive Lombardi Trophies. Do you have any specific team standing in their way?
Tracy Sandler: I used to feel this way about Tom Brady, but I would not count Patrick Mahomes out of anything. He is a once-in-a-generation player that can make things happen in a way that is a God-given talent. Obviously, he’s worked very hard, but there’s an innate sense that he has. As long as he is the quarterback of the Kansas Chiefs, the Chiefs are going to be very hard to beat. One thing we always want to remember is that it’s not so much about how you play in September/October; It’s how you play in November/December. We’ll know a lot more then, but thus far, I haven’t seen a team that I think can beat K.C. Mahomes is incredible and you have to give the credit where credit is due. But it’s a long way to go. The Buffalo Bills are a really good team. I think the Bengals are going to end up coming on strong. Of course, there’s the Ravens. Right now, the Chiefs are looking like the team to beat in the AFC and I think they always will be as long as Mahomes is their quarterback.
Playboy: Flipping over to college football, it’s been an interesting year on account of an expanded playoff field and several universities changing conferences. What are your current thoughts on Michigan’s first full campaign under HC Sherrone Moore?
Tracy Sandler: They certainly have not been perfect and we know that. There’s been a little bit of sloppiness at times but I don’t put that on Coach Moore. A lot of people forget, they lost 30 guys and 18 went on to the NFL. That’s a lot of people. You have a rookie offensive line, a rookie head coach, we don’t really know exactly what the quarterback situation is. There are a lot of things going on that aren’t on the coach. It’s just a transition to young players and change. So far, the Wolverines are doing well. They pulled out huge wins over USC and Minnesota. You are what your record says you are. They lost to Texas who very likely will be the national champion this year. Sherrone Moore is doing a great job. He has a lot of experience behind him. There’s just going to be some growing pains with all the newness in Ann Arbor.
Playboy: How about one for baseball? Summer is over and the 2024 Fall Classic will be here soon enough. Who do you have winning the upcoming World Series?
Tracy Sandler: I really hope it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers. I really, really, really hope it is. I think Shohei Ohtani is such an incredible difference-maker. It’s hard for me to pick a team that’s not the Dodgers because I don’t want to jinx it. I’m not a little ‘stitious, I’m very superstitious. I think it’d be so fun to have a Dodgers-Yankees World Series. But I can tell you a team I’m pulling for that probably won’t go all the way is the Detroit Tigers. What a great story they have been? The Phillies and Padres are also great baseball teams. We’ll see who the Dodgers end up playing in the postseason, but I just have to take the Dodgers coming out of the National League because I feel like I’d be jinxing them otherwise.
Playboy: Take me through “a day in the life of Tracy Sandler.”
Tracy Sandler: Let’s use a Tuesday since players are usually off on Tuesday and it’s a good day for me to focus on the week ahead. I usually workout first thing in the morning. I have to get my workout in because it’s so important for me mentally and physically. Next, go through my emails and texts, checking for all pertinent NFL news, handle all Fangirl business, and then plan out my content for the week. ‘What am I going to do this week? Am I going to do a Niners Unplugged? What do I want the Predictable Picks focus to be? Are we having a guest picker? What stories am I going to write?’ There’s stuff that I’m trying to think of throughout the week, and on Tuesday, I try to finalize all of it. I edit content almost everyday. I’m never fully done, but when I allow myself to be done for the day, I usually like to have dinner with friends or stay home and hang out with my dogs who I love and miss because I travel so much. If it were a practice day like Wednesday, I fly up to the Bay Area. First, we have Kyle Shanahan’s presser and then open locker room availability. Next, we go to practice, and then in the afternoon, I edit a ton of digital content and start writing my stories for the week. I also get my interviews done. That’s kind of a day in my life. Although, every day is so different. I know everybody says that, but it’s so true in this industry.
Interested in more women in sports media? Check out our interviews with top influencers like Lucy Burdge and Amanda Vance.