Ira Berkow (born January 7, 1940) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning sports reporter and columnist for the New York Times. He retired from The Times in 2007, after 26 years there.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Berkow did his undergraduate work at Miami University and graduate work at Northwestern University.

He received the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for his article, "The Minority Quarterback," in the New York Times series How Race Is Lived in America. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer in 1988 for Distinguished Commentary. He is the author of 18 books.