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Four years after the use of a homophobic slur while live on the air, Thom Brennaman is reportedly set to make his return to television broadcasting.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports that Brennaman has agreed to a deal with The CW to become the lead voice of the network’s college football coverage.
“There are no words to describe how grateful I am that they’re rolling the dice,” Brennaman told The Athletic. “They don’t have to do this.”
Brennaman was held in high regard within the broadcasting world for much of his career. But on Aug. 19, 2020, a hot mic caught him refer to Kansas City as, “One of the f– capitals of the world,” while thinking he was off-air.
Thom Brennaman’s Now-Famous Apology Is Part Of Online Sporting History
Brennaman issued a now-famous apology immediately after the incident.
“Um, I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of. If I have hurt anyone out there, I can’t tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I’m so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith – as there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run. And so that will make it a 4–0 ballgame,” he said as then-Reds outfield Nick Castellanos hit a home run mid-apology. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be putting on this headset again.I don’t know if it’s gonna be for the Reds, I don’t know if it’s gonna be for my bosses at Fox. I want to apologize for the people who sign my paycheck – for the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with, for anybody that I’ve offended here tonight. I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am”
“Within seven hours, I was basically fired from everything,” Brennaman, 60, told The Athletic.
Brennaman covered both the NFL and MLB for FOX at the time.
Ironically, Castellanos homered over the weekend shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden announced his intent to withdraw from the 2024 race.
So it appears that things are coming full circle for both Brennaman and Castellanos, who now stars for the Philadelphia Phillies.