List of New Orleans Saints broadcasters

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The New Orleans Saints' flagship radio stations are WWL AM 870 and WWL-FM 105.3. WWL 870 is a 50,000 watt clear channel station, the most powerful in New Orleans. [1] [2] The radio network has affiliates in numerous cities around Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.

Contents

Current staff

Mike Hoss (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color commentator), and Kristian Garic (sideline reporter) form the broadcast team. Former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert hosts the post-game call-in show, "The Point After," and also performs pre-game and halftime commentary. [1]

Past Staff

Veteran sportscaster Al Wester served as the Saints' play-by-play announcer during its first four seasons (1967–1970). Longtime announcer Jim Henderson has led the broadcast team almost continuously since the mid-1980s, his tenure covering the franchise's periods of greatest success. Henderson announced his retirement following the 2017 season. [3] One week later, Wester died at age 93. [4]

Over the years, color commentators have included such notable former Saints players as quarterback Archie Manning, wide receiver Danny Abramowicz, and running backs Jim Taylor, Hokie Gajan, and Deuce McAllister.

SeasonsFlagship stationPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporterRef.
1967–1968 WWL Al Wester Maury Magill [5] [6]
1969–1970 Jim Taylor [5] [6]
1971–1972 Bill McColgan [5] [6]
1973–1975 John Ferguson Steve Stonebreaker [5] [6]
1976 WGSO Wayne Mack Dick Butkus (Weeks 1–8);
Archie Manning (Weeks 9–14)		 [6] [7]
1977–1981 Danny Abramowicz [5] [6]
1982–1984WWL Larry Matson Jim Henderson [8]
1985Jim Henderson (Weeks 1–6);
Jim Henderson & Archie Manning (Weeks 7–16)		 [9]
1986–1989Jim HendersonArchie Manning [10] [11]
1990John Ferguson [11] [12]
1991Larry Matson [13]
1992 WQUE David Garrett Jim Henderson & Archie Manning [14]
1993David Garrett (Weeks 1–11);
Jim Henderson (Weeks 12–18)		Jim Henderson & Archie Manning (Weeks 1–11);
Archie Manning (Weeks 12–18)		 [15]
1994Jim HendersonArchie Manning [16]
1995–1997WWL [17] [18]
1998–1999 Stan Brock Kenny Wilkerson [19]
2000–2007 Hokie Gajan [20]
2008–2009Gus Kattengel
2010–2014Kristian Garic
2015Hokie Gajan (Weeks 1–13);
Deuce McAllister (Weeks 14–17)		 [21]
2016–2017Deuce McAllister [1]
2018–2020 Zach Strief [22]
2021–presentMike Hoss [23]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Orleans Saints Radio". New Orleans Saints. 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ "1922: WWL and the Arrival of New Orleans' Radio Days". 300 for 300: New Orleans Tricentennial. The Times-Picayune. June 16, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ Kincaid, Juan (February 1, 2018). "Legendary 'Voice of the Saints' Jim Henderson Announces Retirement from Broadcasting". FOX 8, WVUE. Raycom Media. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Al Wester, Original Voice of the New Orleans Saints, Passes at 93". New Orleans Saints. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Staub, Cobb Share Home-Run Record". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. January 27, 1985. p. E8.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mack, Wayne (1992). The Sage of the Saints. New Orleans, LA: Arthur Hardy Enterprises. p. 154.
  7. ↑ "Archie Replaces Butkus". The States-Item. New Orleans. November 3, 1976. p. D5.
  8. ↑ "WWL Saints' Broadcaster for '82, '83". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. January 19, 1982. sec. 2, p. 5.
  9. ↑ East, Les (October 25, 1985). "Manning Now Calling Plays Behind the Mike at WWL". The Times-Picayune/The States-Item. New Orleans. p. C8.
  10. ↑ Lorando, Mark (September 18, 1986). "Radio Listeners Struggling to Find the Highlight Zone". The Times-Picayune/The States-Item. New Orleans. p. C5.
  11. 1 2 Lorando, Mark (July 11, 1990). "WWL Recycles Local Veterans". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. E1.
  12. ↑ Lorando, Mark (February 1, 1991). "New Wave of Saints Radio". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. E1.
  13. ↑ Lorando, Mark (February 20, 1991). "Matson's Back in the Game". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. E1.
  14. ↑ Lorando, Mark (February 18, 1992). "Saints Radio Team Has Familiar Sound". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. E3.
  15. ↑ "Garrett Fired as Announcer for Saints". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. November 16, 1993. p. C5.
  16. ↑ Lorando, Mark (December 5, 1994). "Saints' Air-Wave Change Signals a New Era". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. C1.
  17. ↑ Mule, Marty (June 11, 1995). "Henderson Delighted His Voice Will Carry Farther". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. C16.
  18. ↑ Mule, Marty (December 23, 1997). "Archie Manning Leaving Radio Broadcasting Role". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. A1.
  19. ↑ Mule, Marty (September 6, 1998). "Brock Eager for his Rookie Season". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. C2.
  20. ↑ Duncan, Jeff (April 29, 2000). "Haslett Compares Howard to Seattle Pro Bowler". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. D2.
  21. ↑ "Breaux's Injured Hamstring Better". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. December 8, 2015. p. B3.
  22. ↑ "Zach Strief officially announced as new voice of the Saints, replacing Jim Henderson". New Orleans Advocate. New Orleans. July 25, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Mike Hoss named play-by-play announcer for New Orleans Saints game day broadcasts on WWL". New Orleans Saints. New Orleans. June 23, 2021.
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