Where Is Sara Underwood Now? What Happened to the Former Fox 25 Anchor

For more than two decades, Sara Underwood was one of the most familiar faces in Boston television news. She co-anchored the morning show at Boston 25 News (formerly Fox 25), led coverage of major breaking stories, and built a reputation as one of the most trusted journalists in the market.

Then, in August 2021, she stepped away. No scandal. No firing. Just a decision that she needed to be present for her family in a way that a 2 a.m. alarm clock five days a week wouldn’t allow.

That quiet exit left a lot of viewers wondering what happened and where she went. Here is a full breakdown of Sara Underwood’s career, why she left Boston 25, and what she has been doing since.

What Happened to Sara Underwood and Why She Left Boston 25

On August 19, 2021, Underwood made the announcement live on air during the Boston 25 Morning Show. Sitting next to co-anchor Gene Lavanchy, she told viewers she was stepping down from her full-time role.

“After months of thoughtful conversations with my family and very dear friends and station management, I have decided to make the tough decision to step away from this role as morning anchor, the full-time role here,” Underwood said during the broadcast.

The reason was straightforward: her children. Underwood has two daughters, Emma and Tessa, with her husband Michael Felger. The morning anchor schedule required her to wake up around 2 a.m. every weekday. That kind of routine, sustained over years, takes time away from a family in ways that aren’t always visible from the outside.

“This is something that I feel that I need to do for my kids, and I want to do,” she said.

Underwood also made it clear she wasn’t disappearing entirely. She told viewers and colleagues that she would continue to fill in at the station on an as-needed basis. “I won’t be a stranger, I’ll still fill in occasionally with you guys,” she said. “I’ll be here when everyone else has some life decisions that they need covered for.”

Her departure ended a 13-year run at Boston 25 News and more than 20 years as a regular presence in the Boston television market.

Sara Underwood’s Full Broadcasting Career

Underwood’s career in broadcast journalism spans nearly three decades. She grew up in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in journalism.

Her career path followed the trajectory that most local news journalists know well: start small, work hard, and move to bigger markets when the opportunity comes.

• KIEM-TV, Eureka, California. Underwood’s first job in television news was at KIEM-TV in Eureka, a small market on California’s northern coast. This is where she learned the fundamentals of reporting and live broadcasting.
• WDTN, Dayton, Ohio. From there, she moved to WDTN, the ABC affiliate in Dayton, Ohio. She worked as an anchor and reporter and won an Emmy Award for breaking news coverage during her time at the station. That award marked her as someone worth watching in the industry.
• WTTG, Washington, D.C. Underwood’s next stop was WTTG, the FOX owned-and-operated station in the nation’s capital. Working in the D.C. market gave her exposure to national-level stories and the pace of a top-tier newsroom.
• WBZ-TV, Boston. In 2000, Underwood arrived in Boston. She joined WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate, and anchored the 6 p.m. newscast. She also appeared on the station’s sister outlet, WSBK. She spent eight years at WBZ, establishing herself as a known and trusted name in the Boston market. It was also during this period that she met her future husband, Michael Felger, on a television set in 2000.
• Boston 25 News (WFXT). In September 2008, Underwood moved to WFXT, then branded as Fox 25, to join their news team. She initially worked as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter. Over time, she rose to co-anchor the morning show alongside Gene Lavanchy, broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The Boston Marathon Bombing and Underwood’s Defining On-Air Moment

The event that tested Underwood more than any other in her career was the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013.

When the bombs went off near the finish line, Underwood was working at Fox 25. The station’s main anchor was on vacation at the time. Underwood was thrust into the lead anchor chair for what would become one of the biggest breaking news events in Boston’s history.

She was on the air for roughly ten hours a day during the initial coverage, guiding viewers through a chaotic week that included a citywide manhunt, a lockdown order, and a shootout in Watertown. It was the kind of extended, high-pressure coverage that defines a career. For many Boston viewers, Underwood’s steady presence during those days cemented her as the anchor they trusted most.

In a later interview, Underwood described the experience as the moment that truly connected her to the Boston 25 audience. “I was just freelancing for Fox 25 when the Boston Marathon Bombing happened,” she said. “Our main anchor at the time was on vacation, so I was put in a position where I was on the air ten hours a day covering every single detail.”

The station recognized what she brought during that period, and her role was solidified as the lead morning anchor going forward.

Where Is Sara Underwood Now in 2026?

Since stepping down from her full-time morning anchor position in August 2021, Underwood has kept a much lower public profile. She has not taken a permanent on-air role at another station.

She has returned to Boston 25 periodically in a fill-in capacity, as she promised she would. In March 2022, the station announced she was back on the desk for the month, filling in during a period of transition. Her reappearances have been occasional rather than regular.

As of 2026, Underwood appears to be focused on her family. Her husband, Michael Felger, remains active and prominent in Boston media, co-hosting “Felger and Massarotti” on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM), one of the highest-rated sports talk radio shows in the city. Their daughters, Emma and Tessa, have been growing up during the years since Underwood stepped back from the anchor desk.

The family lives in the Boston suburb of Wellesley and spends part of the summer at a home on Nantucket, where Underwood and Felger have been regular visitors for years.

Underwood has not publicly announced a retirement. Her bio page on the Boston 25 website has remained accessible, and her status with the station appears to be that of a fill-in contributor rather than a full-time employee. Whether she eventually returns to daily broadcasting or continues on her current path remains an open question that she has not addressed publicly.

Sara Underwood’s Husband: Michael Felger

Underwood’s husband, Michael Felger, is one of the most recognized sports media personalities in Boston. He co-hosts “Felger and Massarotti” alongside Tony Massarotti on 98.5 The Sports Hub. The show is consistently one of the highest-rated sports radio programs in the Boston market.

Felger was born on August 6, 1969. Before his radio career, he worked as a sportswriter for the Boston Herald and has authored books about the New England Patriots. He has also appeared on television, including work with Comcast SportsNet New England (now NBC Sports Boston).

Underwood and Felger met on a television set in 2000, when both were working in Boston media. Their second date took place on Nantucket, which became a significant place for the couple. They married in 2002.

In a Nantucket Magazine feature, Underwood described their daily schedules during her anchoring years as essentially opposite. She would leave the house before dawn for her morning show shift. He would head out in the afternoon for his radio program. “Like two ships passing in the night,” the profile described them, with Nantucket serving as their shared anchor point during the summers.

Sara Underwood’s Family and Personal Life

Underwood grew up in Palo Alto, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. Beyond that geographic detail, she has kept most of her family background private. Her parents’ names and occupations have not been widely reported.

What has been publicly documented is her life as a mother. She and Felger have two daughters, Emma and Tessa. Underwood has spoken about the tension between her demanding work schedule and her desire to be present for her children, and ultimately, that tension is what drove her decision to leave the morning anchor chair in 2021.

Her decision resonated with viewers and colleagues in Boston media. Several colleagues praised her on social media after the announcement, including Bob Dumas (a special projects producer at Boston 25), Mark Ockerbloom (a fellow Boston 25 anchor), and Susan Pawlak-Seaman (a veteran journalist from the New Bedford Standard-Times).

Quick-Reference Profile

FAQs

Where is Sara Underwood now?

As of 2026, Sara Underwood is no longer a full-time news anchor. She stepped down from her daily role at Boston 25 News in August 2021 to spend more time with her family. She has returned to the station occasionally in a fill-in capacity but has not taken another permanent on-air position.

Why did Sara Underwood leave Fox 25 / Boston 25?

Underwood left her full-time morning anchor role to focus on her two daughters. The morning show schedule required her to wake up around 2 a.m. five days a week, and she decided the time away from her family was no longer sustainable. She announced the decision live on air on August 19, 2021.

Who is Sara Underwood’s husband?

Sara Underwood is married to Michael Felger, a prominent Boston sports radio host. Felger co-hosts “Felger and Massarotti” on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM). The couple met on a television set in 2000 and married in 2002. They have two daughters, Emma and Tessa.

Is Sara Underwood the same person as the model Sara Underwood?

No. Sara Underwood the Boston news anchor is a different person from Sara Jean Underwood, the model and social media personality. The journalist Sara Underwood is an Emmy Award-winning television anchor who spent more than 20 years in the Boston news market.

Did Sara Underwood retire from journalism?

Underwood has not publicly announced a formal retirement. She described her 2021 departure as stepping away from a full-time role rather than leaving the industry entirely. She has returned to Boston 25 in a fill-in capacity on multiple occasions since her departure.

Where did Sara Underwood go to college?

Underwood grew up in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in journalism.

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