Kellerman first rose to national recognition as the original host of ESPN’s debate-style program Around the Horn, which debuted in 2002. He was also a boxing analyst on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, working alongside Brian Kenny, further establishing his credentials as a knowledgeable voice in boxing. After parting ways with ESPN in 2004 due to creative differences, he hosted the show I, Max on Fox Sports Net.

Early Life and Education

Max Kellerman was born on August 6, 1973, in Greenwich Village, New York City. He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family and was the eldest of two brothers—the younger, Sam Kellerman, was born in 1974. The two were close during their upbringing and both attended Hunter College High School in Manhattan. Max graduated from the school in 1991. As a student, he had a deep interest in sports, especially basketball, and often imagined himself as a commentator, even playacting the role among friends.

During his early childhood, Kellerman suffered an electrical accident that left a permanent scar near his mouth. After high school, he attended Columbia College, part of Columbia University, where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in history. His educational background and passion for broadcasting quickly translated into a media career after college.