Report: Fox finds lead NFL play-by-play replacement
Fox has found its replacement for longtime lead playby-play man Joe Buck.
According to the New York Post, Kevin Burkhardt, who has been with the network since 2013, is finalizing a contract with Fox that will make him the lead play-by-play voice for the network’s NFL broadcasts, including Super Bowls. Fox has the rights to two of the next three Super Bowls.
Fox allowed Buck out of the final year of his contract so that he could negotiate with ESPN, which hired him to be the play-by-play voice of “Monday Night Football.” ESPN also hired away analyst Troy Aikman, who had been Buck’s longtime partner at Fox, after Fox didn’t renew Aikman’s expired contract.
It’s a significant transition for Fox after Buck had been at the network since 1994 and called six Super Bowls. He had been the lead play-by-play announcer for NFL broadcasts for two decades and was also the voice of the network’s coverage of the World Series.
According to the Post, Greg Olsen is a leading candidate to keep continuity in the booth and replace Aikman.
In the 2021 NFL season, Burkhardt had been paired with Olsen, the former Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears tight end and current game analyst, and Pam Oliver (sideline reporter).
Burkhardt has also been a fixture on Fox’s MLB and college basketball broadcasts, including being the studio host for the network’s postseason coverage since 2014.
Prior to joining Fox, Burkhardt called NFL games nationally for Compass Media and also worked at SNY, where he was the field reporter for New York Mets broadcasts.