Jon Kingdon arrived at Oberlin College with plans to play football, but a knee injury before his freshman season altered his athletic path. After undergoing surgery following the fall semester, he returned to the field his sophomore year, playing tight end in a wishbone offense. Concerned about re-injuring his knee, Kingdon stepped away from playing football but stayed close to the game. He took on a new role as a play-by-play announcer for Oberlin football and basketball broadcasts on WOBC. He also contributed to campus life as sports editor of the Oberlin Review during his senior year.
Kingdon earned his Bachelor of Arts in English, though he was unsure of his next steps after graduation. He spent a year bartending at a restaurant in Queens, New York, called the Steak Loft, owned by Steve Rubell—who would go on to co-found the legendary Studio 54 nightclub.
Finding his calling in sports, Kingdon enrolled at the University of Massachusetts and earned a master's degree in Sports Management. In 1978, he landed an internship with the Oakland Raiders, which launched a long and distinguished NFL career. From 1979, Kingdon worked as a college scout and in 1991 he became the Director of College Scouting until 2012.
After his time with the Raiders, Kingdon worked as an advance scout for the University of California football team for two seasons. He then co-authored the book Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield, offering readers a rare insider's perspective on the legendary and controversial owner. Continuing his engagement with sports journalism, became the sports editor for The Lamorinda Weekly, a Bay Area newspaper, where he covers local high schools and St. Mary's College athletics. In 2022, the California News Publisher's Association awarded Kingdon first place for his story "Donna de Varona: Olympic gold medalist and Title IX crusader."
Kingdon married Karen, a forensic investigator, in 1995. Together they have two children, Kelly and Stephen. A proud Oberlin alumnus, Kingdon has been a devoted supporter of the Heisman Club since 1983 and is a regular at Bay Area Heisman Club Happy Hours. This spring marks Kingdon's 50th class reunion. Â
