The term “nepo baby” has worked its way into the general zeigeist, as more and more Americans became aware that many high-profile jobs are the result of who, not what, you know. Noah Eagle, son of longtime broadcaster Ian Eagle, recently called his first NFL game — a 28-14 Atlanta Falcons victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 16.
Noah Eagle is only 25 and already being thrust into the spotlight — most likely because of who his dad is. (Unless you think his star shone so brightly at Nickelodeon).
Nepotism may be looked down upon in most workplaces, but it seems like you need to have a famous relative in order to get a sports broadcasting gig. Be it play-by-play or color commentary, in-studio, or on the sidelines, the children of these famous broadcasters likely jumped to the head of the line because of who their dads were.
Here’s a look at how some of the young faces in sports broadcasting got their foot in a door (with some help from Dad and his friends along the way).
“YES!” Despite being an Emmy Award winner and legend in the biz for his on-air work, Marv may be best remembered for things that happened outside of work. In 1997, he was accused of sexual assault, which led to his firing from NBC. He was also alleged to have a preference for particular undergarments.
The 54-year-old play-by-play guy can be seen on TV for football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and boxing. In October 2009, Albert called four sports — a regular season NFL game, served as host for the Yankees’ locker room celebration after clinching the ALCS, a New York Rangers game, and the Knicks’ season opener — in four days. He’s reportedly 5-foot-8, so no wonder his broadcast colleagues pictured above tower over him.
“I don’t believe what I just saw!” The elder Buck had a long, distinguished career calling baseball and football games. A corporal in the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division who served in WWII, he was awarded a Purple Heart before enrolling and college and getting his broadcasting start by calling games for the Columbus Red Birds, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate. He’s also been inducted into multiple Hall of Fames.
Love him or hate him, Buck has been the voice of several high-profile sporting events through the years. He served as the play-by-play announcer for the World Series from 1996-2001 (minus 1997 and ‘99), called six Super Bowl games, and is currently the lead guy on ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast. You may have even seen him during the U.S. Open. I say seen and not heard because you more than likely hit the mute button.
Buck basically admitted he got his job via nepotism (he called his first World Series at age 27) in an interview with Graham Bensinger, saying, “I’m my dad’s kid, and I’m still, right or wrong, fighting that uphill battle, and I’m not saying that makes sense. I mean my dad didn’t hire me at FOX… but it certainly gave me my start, and I think I’m always kind of fighting that.”
He was the radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds from 1974-2019. That stretch led to him being on the mic for Hank Aaron’s 714th home run (in his debut as Cincy’s play-by-play guy, no less), Pete Rose’s record-breaking hit, Ken Griffey Jr.’s 500th and 600th career long balls, three Fall Classics, several no-hitters and a perfect game. He also had a way with words when it came to describing upcoming schedules — he compared a Reds road trip to the Bataan Death March — and discussing Marshall University’s president. Speaking of using anti-gay language…
Thom has called pro and college football and basketball, as well as baseball during his career. But he may never put on a headset again after a hot mic caught him uttering an anti-gay slur and his on-air apology being turned into a meme thanks to a drive to deep left field by Nick Castellanos.
The Ford C. Frick Award winner and National Radio Hall of Famer was so beloved, Will Ferrell impersonated him on Saturday Night Live. (What’s your favorite planet? Mine’s the sun!) Caray’s career stretched from 1945-1997. Holy cow! … Though we probably should mention that he also made some disparaging remarks that were offensive to Asians and Asian Americans.
“Good night, Skippy!” The son of Harry, Skip was an Atlanta Braves broadcaster from 1976 until his 2008 death. He frequently joked about Youppi!, the Montreal Expos mascot, Mets fans, pro wrestling, “The Wave” and more. When TBS tried to market Braves games to non-market fans, Caray and Pete Van Wieren were pulled from the TV broadcast, much to the ire of fans, local media, and even skipper Bobby Cox.
Chip was hired to work alongside his grandpa, Harry, in 1998 before taking the mantle of “voice of the Cubs” after the latter’s death. In 2004, Chip announced he would be joining his father, Skip, for Braves coverage. He has been skewered for his errors during his TBS baseball play-by-play work, which included dubbing a Game 7 as “pivotal.”
Now here’s a guy who sounds just like his pops. His first stint with NBC started while he was still a student at Notre Dame. He is currently the Fighting Irish play-by-play caller while also serving as co-host of Football Night in America. Jac is just 27 and who knows what low-profile school he might be the voice of if it wasn’t for his 17-time Sports Emmy-winning father.
A University of North Carolina grad, Durham became the voice of the Tar Heels’ football and men’s basketball programs from 1971-2011. He was on the mic for UNC’s 1982, 1993, 2005, and 2009 National Title wins. His childhood friend, Bob Harris, would end up becoming the voice of the rival Duke Blue Devils.
The radio voice of Georgia Tech’s football and men’s basketball programs from 1995-2010, Durham (far right) was also the school’s director of broadcasting. He’s also the radio voice of the Atlanta Falcons. Good for him, I guess.
The Bird is the word. This man has been there for everything from college football and basketball, the NFL and the NBA to even tennis, boxing, and track and field. He’s set to take over for Jim Nantz as the lead play-by-play announcer of the NCAA Tournament, starting in 2024. One thing I didn’t know about him… his father, Jack, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Xerox.
Noah Eagle got the job as the radio voice of the L.A. Clippers when he was only 22. And last month, at 25, he called his first NFL action. At that age, I was covering local high school sports in Northern N.J. before the Gannett takeover. My dad helped me get that gig. Sure has paid off…
Former co-host of Mike and Mike, Golic was ESPN’s resident Notre Dame homer until his 2021 retirement. He had a lackluster NFL career but turned that into a long, distinguished broadcasting tenure. What you might not know about Mike Golic is that in 2015 he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also didn’t appear on Saved by the Bell like his older brother, Bob.
The younger Golic is also a Golden Domer. He played alongside Manti Te’o, which I guess is the highlight of his playing career? His famous pops helped him get a gig at ESPN, though Golic Jr. has since left.
College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese is probably best remembered as the starting QB for the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. He won two Super Bowls with the ‘Phins. During his broadcast career, he called Michigan games featuring his son, Brian, who was the Wolverines’ signal-caller from 1995-97, winning the Rose Bowl and a share of the national title during his final season in Ann Arbor.
Also a former NFL QB, Brian was also a Super Bowl winner, albeit as John Elway’s backup. After a much less distinguished playing career than his dad, he went on to work for ESPN and was part of the Monday Night Football broadcast for a bit. As for how that went…
This man is a Braves Hall of Famer. He pitched for the organization for eight of his nine professional campaigns, winning the World Series with the then-Milwaukee-based Braves in 1957. The broadcast booth at Truist Park is named in his honor, after he served as the both team’s radio and TV play-by-by and color commentator between 1962-1999. He also worked alongside the aforementioned Skip Caray during his tenure.
This man loves his bowties. In 2019, Johnson said he owns 75-80 of them. The NBA on TNT host has also done play-by-play or studio work for the World Cup, the Olympics, college football, MLB, and golf.
Outside of his on-air work, Johnson and his wife, Cheryl, adopted four children, including a son, Michael, from a Romanian orphanage. Michael was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and died at 33. Johnson, who has survived non-Hodgkin lymphoma and prostate cancer, delivered a heartfelt tribute to his son, stating “there’s value in everybody.”
Harry Kalas was the play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia Phillies. He was on air for the first and last games at Veterans Stadium and the inaugural game at Citizens Bank Park. During his iconic career, Kalas called six no-hitters, and three World Series. You may also know the Ford C. Frick winner’s voice from NFL Films productions and Inside the NFL… or the first five Puppy Bowls.
Todd Kalas (far right) followed in his father’s footsteps and worked alongside his pops for a few years on Phillies’ TV broadcasts. He’s currently the TV play-by-play guy for the Astros, teaming with former MLB journeyman Geoff Blum. The nepotism doesn’t extend to his siblings, however. His brother Kane (far left) is a pro poker player while Brad has had some nondescript acting roles.
“HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!” Dan Kelly was known as the radio play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Blues, but also worked some NHL TV broadcasts. He was on the call for Bobby Orr’s overtime goal that sealed the 1970 Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins. Outside of hockey, Kelly also called some NFL, NCAA, and MLB games.
Not a junior, as his father was Patrick Daniel Kelly, Dan P. (right) became the radio voice of the Blues in 1997. He was the first TV play-by-play announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets until the NHL lockout. After that, he called University of Denver hockey games, Chicago Blackhawks games — until being let go in 2008 — and Chicago Fire (the MLS team, not the NBC show) matches from 2010-19.
Guess who else joined the Blues’ broadcast booth? John Kelly was there from 1989-92 before joining the Tampa Bay Lightning and later the Colorado Avalanche for play-by-play duties. He also appeared on some regional NHL on Fox broadcasts. As is tradition, his son, Patrick, was given a broadcasting gig, though a much less cushy one — he provided his voice for the indoor soccer team St. Louis Ambush.
A former Boston Globe sportswriter, McDonough did some on-air work for CBS and NBC in the early 90s. During his time as a journalist, he had the scoop that Bill Parcells was joining the Jets. It just so happened that the legendary coach was one of his good friends and the two shared agents.
This man has called football and basketball games, golf outings, lacrosse, and Olympic hockey. But notably, Sean McDonough replaced Jack Buck on CBS’s MLB broadcasts. Four years after McDonough — then 30 — became the youngest World Series broadcaster when he called the 1992 Fall Classic with Tim McCarver, Joe Buck would take that distinction. Funny how things work.
If you’ve watched ESPN over the past several decades, you’ve had to have seen Karl Ravech. He’s been an anchor on Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight, he’s been the lead voice for Little League World Series coverage, and commentated on other sporting events for the Worldwide Leader.
At 22, Sam Ravech was the youngest ESPN play-by-play broadcaster after he called a Tulane men’s basketball game in 2017. According to his Twitter bio and LinkedIn profile, Ravech is an on-air personality for the Worldwide Leader as well as a broadcaster on the SEC and ACC networks. At 22, I was trying to get my shit together and finish up college. I did work for a broadcast network shortly after, though it was basically getting people coffee. Thanks, dad!
He may not be a Hall of Famer, but he did win two Super Bowls with the Giants, forever enduring him to the Big Blue faithful. He was a much better player than broadcaster, but he’s got to work alongside Jim Nantz — or as Phil calls him “Jeem” — and may have farted on his colleague.
Chris was less accomplished than his father, though he certainly has a better resume than his younger brother, Matt. And despite playing quarterback — he’s a tough dude for playing through a ruptured spleen but he was at one point Kyle Orton’s backup in Denver and was released after the team acquired another signal-caller turned broadcaster, Brady Quinn — Chris seems to have a hard time evaluating the position.
A 1998 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Don Sutton was a four-time All-Star, most remembered for his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won 324 games and pitched to a 3.26 ERA in his 23-year career. In his post-playing days, Sutton did radio and TV work for the Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Nationals.
Like many other names on this list, Daron got to work with his pops calling games — in this case with the Braves in the late 90s. He didn’t play baseball professionally, but started his broadcast career at CNN before doing play-by-play work for several MLB franchises, as well as the Pac-12 Network.
Sometimes it’s not about where you end up, but how you get your foot in the door in the first place. Keli McGregor was an NFL tight end and President of the Colorado Rockies from 2001 until his tragic death in 2010.
Eight years later, at the ripe old age of 25, his daughter, Taylor McGregor, was hired as the sideline reporter for her dad’s team, the Rockies. These days, she works sidelines for the Chicago Cubs games for the Marquee Network and college football Saturdays for ESPN.
