Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

USA Today Sports

Legendary NFL Broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff To Retire

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Steve Carney | Last updated Dec 31, 2025 2:01 PM ET

One of the longest-tenured voices associated with an NFL broadcast has announced he will retire, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers radio broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff says he will step away from his duties at the end of the 2025 season aftter 37 seasons behind the microphone.

“Gene Deckerhoff’s voice has set the scene for the most iconic moments in our franchise’s history, and his signature calls will forever resonate with Buccaneers fans,” Buccaneers co-owner and chairman Bryan Glazer said. “His passion, authenticity, and unmistakable voice created memories that have been cherished and enjoyed by countless generations of Buccaneers fans.”

Deckerhoff joined the Buccaneers for the start of the 1989 season, and at the end of 2025 will have called 597 regular season games plus 12 trips to the playoffs and a pair of Super Bowl wins in 2002 and 2020.

“Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” Deckerhoff said. “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.

“I will miss doing what I love, but now is the right time to step away.”

Some Of The Legendary Calls From Gene Deckerhoff

“Run Michael! Run!” Spurlock gives Bucs first-ever kickoff return for TD

The Buccaneers have had plenty of marks for futility, including the 0-26 record to start the franchise’s history. But one strange statistic stuck with the team even long after their first championship: they had never returned a kickoff for a touchdown. That streak would finally come to an end on December 16, 2007, when Michael Spurlock returned a Morten Anderson kick 90 yards to the house, with Deckerhoff screaming “Run Michael! Run Michael! Run Michael! Run!”

“Say Hallelujah!” Matt Bryant’s 62-yard FG beats Eagles

Buccaneers fans find some extra satisfaction in beating the Philadelphia Eagles, and in October of 2006, Tampa Bay looked for a second straight victory following an 0-4 start to the year by welcoming the 4-2 Eagles to Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers squandered a 17-0 third quarter lead and fell behind 21-20 with just over 30 seconds to play. Bruce Gradkowski was able to complete one pass, and scramble for enough yardage to get into Eagles territory to try what still is the longest field goal in franchise history. The low-trajectory kick just got over the crossbar, sending the crowd (and Deckheroff) into a frenzy.

“Matt Bryant is my hero!” he exclaimed, then turnedd to his broadcast partner Hardy Nickerson and screamed “Say hallelujah!” Nickerson shouted “Hallelujah,” before the two both laughed and said at the same time what Gene was trying to call: “Can I get an ‘Amen!'”

“Coast To Coast” Ronde Barber Shuts Down The Vet

I told you the Bucs like beating the Eagles, and it couldn’t have been more fitting that to go to their first Super Bowl, Tampa Bay was going to have to exorcise their demons of not playing well in the cold and not playing well at Veterans Stadium. Leave it to Ronde Barber’s whose pick-six of Donovan McNabb would endure that Philly fans would remember the final game at the Vet as the game the Eagles couldn’t get the job done.

“The Dagger’s In” Brooks Pick-Six Solidifies Super Bowl Win

Just a couple of weeks later, the Buccaners faced the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, as Jon Gruden, who Tampa Bay traded for to replace Tony Dungy as head coach, faced off against his former team. We would find out later that Gruden himself ran scout team as quarterback because he knew all of Rich Gannon’s tendencies having coached him the previous year. The preparation paid off as Gannon threw five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, in a 48-21 victory for Tampa Bay. Derrick Brooks’ 44-yard return with just over a minute to play was the second of the three, but proved to be the exclamation point for Deckerhoff, who shouted, “The daggers in, we’re going to win the Super Bowl!”