Report: Kevin Burkhardt will take Joe Buck's spot as Fox's No. 1 play-by-play announcer
Kevin Burkhardt is moving up to take Joe Buck's lead play-by-play spot at Fox, the New York Post's Andrew Marchand reported Monday.
The sides are reportedly finalizing a new long-term contract and he will call Super Bowls for the network. Fox hosts Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12, 2023.
Burkhardt, the beloved former New York Mets reporter for SNY, was the No. 2 NFL play-by-play announcer at Fox behind Joe Buck. Buck spent nearly three decades with the network calling 24 World Series and six Super Bowls. Earlier this month he left to join color commentator Troy Aikman at ESPN for "Monday Night Football."
Burkhardt's booth partner, Greg Olsen, is reportedly a leading candidate to move up with Burkhardt into the No. 1 team. Olsen said on Yahoo Sports' "The Rush" last week he would love to make the announcement he was joining the No. 1 team, but "we're not there yet."
He was a well-received addition during his first year in the booth in 2021, but a move up is reportedly not guaranteed. There was reportedly discussion of Tom Brady until the quarterback announced he was un-retiring.
The NFL broadcast booths are undergoing a major shuffle this offseason with big names leaving for other companies and massive paychecks. Al Michaels, the iconic NBC figure, is now with Amazon Prime Video for their "Thursday Night Football" broadcasts. He'll partner with Kirk Herbstreit, who is still under contract with ESPN but can call games for other networks.
Cris Collinsworth, Michaels' former partner, is remaining at NBC on "Sunday Night Football" and Mike Tirico will move into Michaels' spot.
Burkhardt's rise from car salesman
Burkhardt, 48, was a used car salesman in New Jersey two decades ago before getting his initial break with WCBS and WFAN Radio. He did updates as a part-time worker in 2004-05 while the boss at the Chevy dealership allowed him to work flexible hours.
WFAN hired him full-time after seven months of the car gig that paid his major bills. He eventually landed with SNY in 2007 and was a beloved figure on the broadcasts alongside booth icons Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. Mets fans came to enjoy Steve Gelbs as his replacement, but it was still a rocky transition from the fan favorite.
Burkhardt joined Fox Sports in 2013 and he moved into a position hosting the World Series. He graduated from William Patterson in 1997 and called minor league baseball out of college.
