Aaron Levine’s ‘Jeopardy!’ Journey: From Sports Anchor to Three-Time Champion

In the heart of Seattle’s sports scene, FOX 13 sports director Aaron Levine recently swapped his usual role of covering athletes for becoming a competitor himself – as a contestant on the iconic game show “Jeopardy!” While the Seattle Mariners were building their own winning streak in September, Levine was quietly creating a streak of his own, which aired this week to the delight of local viewers. The sports anchor claimed victory in three consecutive episodes before finally being defeated on Thursday night. What viewers saw as a week-long journey was actually filmed over just four hours, with brief 15-minute breaks between games for Levine to change outfits in what’s called the “champion’s changing room.” As he described it, “It’s a little jarring to win a game and then go back to change, and all of a sudden you’re pretending it’s a brand new day.” This compressed filming schedule gave Levine a newfound appreciation for contestants who manage multiple wins, as the mental fatigue is very real when tackling such intense intellectual challenges back-to-back.

For Levine, trivia has been a lifelong passion with roots in his childhood, where “Jeopardy!” was nightly family viewing in his Los Angeles home. With a history degree from Stanford University (a fact he proudly acknowledged during one of his appearances with a “Go Cardinal” fist pump after correctly answering a Stanford-related question), Levine had strong academic foundations for the game. His journey to “Jeopardy!” wasn’t direct, though. After college, trivia faded from his life until he settled in Gig Harbor, Washington, where local trivia nights rekindled his interest. By 2019, he had developed an impressive study system – boxes upon boxes of meticulously organized index cards covering literature, music, art, geography, religion, and countless other subjects that might appear on the show. This wasn’t Levine’s first brush with television competition either; at 18, he appeared on “The Price is Right,” and in 2004, he was the national runner-up on ESPN’s reality show “Dream Job,” which searched for a new “SportsCenter” anchor.

The experience of being on “Jeopardy!” was made even more special by the connection with host Ken Jennings, a fellow Seattleite and sports enthusiast. Though interactions between contestants and the host are limited to brief exchanges during commercial breaks, Levine felt a natural kinship with Jennings. “I did feel a sort of familiarity and kinship with him, knowing that not only is he from Seattle, but he’s a big Seattle sports fan, and that he’s a huge Mariners fan,” Levine shared. The connection ran both ways, as Jennings was familiar with Levine’s work on Seattle television. This local connection added a layer of comfort to the high-pressure environment of competing on one of America’s most beloved game shows.

During his run, Levine showcased both knowledge and personality. He made a playful nod to the famous “Key & Peele” sketch by writing “AA ron” on his podium screen instead of the traditional spelling of his name. His game performance had its highlights, including correctly answering questions about his alma mater Stanford and the Seattle Seahawks. There were also moments he wishes he could do over – missing a Final Jeopardy question about Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in the “historic homes” category (a subject within his history specialty), and failing to buzz in on a question about Bill Gates’ inheritance plans. These moments of missed opportunity, especially on clues related to his areas of expertise, demonstrate the unique pressure of performing under the bright lights with cameras rolling and a legendary host awaiting your response.

Levine joins a proud tradition of Seattle-area residents who have appeared on “Jeopardy!” over the decades. Notable local champions include Good Thinking Games CEO David Erb and Amazon employee Stephanie Hubley, who once received congratulations from Jeff Bezos for her appearance in 2016. While Levine’s three victories fall well short of Ken Jennings’ legendary 74-game winning streak, they far exceeded his personal goal of winning just one game. “To be able to walk away from that stage and say, ‘Hey, I’m a ‘Jeopardy!’ champion’ and to have done that three times and qualify for a postseason tournament is more than I could have ever dreamed of,” he reflected. The experience provided what he calls “a lifetime of memories” – alongside something much more tangible.

Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of Levine’s “Jeopardy!” success is what he plans to do with his nearly $50,000 in winnings. Rather than splurging on luxuries or adventures, the sports anchor is thinking long-term: “It’s going into a college fund for my son. It’s so relieving to me to just have a sum of money that can hopefully grow for the next 10 years.” For Levine, whose son is 8 years old, these winnings represent not just recognition of his trivia prowess but a meaningful investment in his family’s future. It’s a decision that brings the story full circle – from a child watching “Jeopardy!” with his family to a father whose appearance on the show will help secure his own child’s education. In that sense, Levine’s victory extends far beyond the “Jeopardy!” stage, creating an educational legacy that will benefit the next generation.