’FAN favorites
Station set on Francesa’s successors
In place of one Mike Francesa, WFAN has three rising radio personalities in mind.
Almost a month away from Francesa’s last day at the station, Dec. 15, WFAN is expected to announce the afternoon show that will replace the radio legend’s nine-year solo gig.
Francesa has hosted his own show since his longtime partner, Chris Russo, left for SiriusXM in 2008, ending the 19-year run of “Mike and the Mad Dog.”
Chris Carlin, who departed SNY last year to co-host a midday show with Ike Reese on Philadelphia’s WIP, will join former Jets linebacker Bart Scott and “SI Now” host Maggie Gray on the new WFAN show, according to multiple reports.
NFL Network reporter Kimberley Jones and NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms originally were leading candidates to fill the third spot, but both declined the offer and WFAN moved on, Newsday reported.
Carlin and Scott will be returning to the city they each called home at one point in their careers, Scott with the Jets from 2009-12 and Carlin as a producer on “Mike and the Mad Dog” before assuming multiple onair roles at SNY. Scott took an analyst job on ESPN New York radio after he became one of CBS Sports’ casualties in May.
The lesser-known Gray, who splits time between SI.com and CBS Sports Radio in New York, will bring a female perspective to the maledominated sports radio franchise.
Francesa announced in January 2016 he would be leaving WFAN at the end of 2017, although he said this summer he would be open to pushing the date back should the station need his help following Craig Carton’s arrest.
WFAN’s upcoming announcement will also include naming Carton’s replacement to team up with Boomer Esiason in the morning.
Gregg Giannotti, who has filled in for Carton since he resigned from WFAN a week after he was arrested for his role in a million-dollar Ponzi scheme, is expected to get the nod.