He called two Super Bowls during his illustrious career.
Gene Deckerhoff, the longtime radio play-by-play voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is hanging up the headset at the end of the season.
On Wednesday, the Buccaneers announced that Gene Deckerhoff will retire at the end of the 2025 season. Deckerhoff has been the club’s radio play-by-play since 1989 and has called over 800 of their games. His replacement has not been named yet.
Deckerhoff issued the following statement, per Scott Smith of the Buccaneers’ official website:
“Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. I’ve had the fortune to form meaningful relationships with players, coaches and staff members as well as interact with thousands of Buccaneers fans everywhere in the world. My wife, Ann, and I are grateful to the Glazer family for allowing us to be a part of the Buccaneers organization for so many wonderful years.
I am equally thankful to all the members of the radio crew and the partners I have had with me through the years– particularly Dave Moore, who has been by my side for the past 19 years. I will miss doing what I love, but now is the right time to step away.”
The Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. They need a win and an Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the New Orleans Saints to clinch the NFC South. Otherwise, Saturday will be Gene Deckerhoff’s final game in the booth.
Tampa Bay has lost seven of its last eight games. But a Carolina loss to the Seattle Seahawks kept Tampa’s hopes alive. But wins for the Bucs and Tampa would put them and the Panthers in a three-way tie at 8-9. Bryce Young and company would win the three-way tiebreaker.
The Bucs have been marred by injuries this season, with star wide receiver Mike Evans and running back Bucky Irving both missing significant time. Thus, winning the division would be a remarkable achievement.
Gene Deckerhoff Called Two Buccaneers’ Super Bowl Championships
The Buccaneers were among football’s biggest laughingstocks when Deckerhoff took over as their lead radio voice in 1989. However, the franchise began to turn a corner under head coach Tony Dungy and a star-studded defense in the late 1990s.
Deckerhoff and long-suffering Buccaneers fans were finally rewarded when the franchise won its first Super Bowl in the 2002 season. 18 years later, Tom Brady led the Bucs to an upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs to clinch a second Lombardi Trophy banner.
Aside from the Buccaneers, Deckerhoff called games for the Florida State Seminoles’ men’s football, baseball, and basketball games from 1989 to 2022.
All the best to Deckerhoff in his retirement.
