Tampa Bay Buccaneers legendary radio play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff announced today that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, closing out one of the longest and most distinguished broadcasting tenures in franchise and league history. Deckerhoff will be made available to the media in the press box at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, January 3, at 3:15 p.m. ET.
Deckerhoff has served as the voice of the Buccaneers for 37 seasons, a span that ranks as the third-longest play-by-play tenure for an NFL club, behind only the Eagles' Merrill Reese and the Cowboys' Brad Sham. Since joining the organization in 1989, Deckerhoff has been on the call for more than 750 Buccaneers preseason, regular season and playoff games, and has bellowed his signature, 'Touchdown, Tampa Bay!' call on more than 1,100 occasions. Deckerhoff's unmistakable voice has chronicled three-quarters of all games in Buccaneers history, connecting fans with the franchise from transformational years through its two Super Bowl Championships.
"For 37 seasons, 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," said Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer. "His passion, authenticity, and unmistakable voice created memories that have been cherished and enjoyed by countless generations of Buccaneers fans. As he closes out his extraordinary journey, we congratulate Gene on a remarkable broadcasting career and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement."
The beloved Deckerhoff's unmistakable calls span singular milestones, postseason breakthroughs, and championship runs, including “There it is! The dagger is in! We’re going to win the Super Bowl!” as Derrick Brooks sealed Super Bowl XXXVII; “Gone! Coast to coast, Rondé Barber!” on Barber's iconic interception return in the 2002 NFC Championship Game; and “You go, Joe!” moments earlier as Joe Jurevicius broke open that same contest with a 71-yard touchdown catch from Brad Johnson. Deckerhoff, who coined the popular phrase "Fire the Cannons!" after Buccaneers home game scoring plays, also delivered the unforgettable call on Micheal Spurlock's historic kickoff return touchdown – the first in franchise history – with his emphatic “Run, Micheal, run!” against Atlanta on December 16, 2007.
"Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career," said Deckerhoff. "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."
Widely regarded as one of the nation's premier play-by-play broadcasters, Deckerhoff's career in sports media spans more than six decades. In addition to his work with the Buccaneers, he served as the voice of the Florida State Seminoles from 1979–2021 and lent his voice to numerous teams and events throughout the decades, while also working as a local television sports director in Tallahassee.
Throughout his career, Deckerhoff has been recognized with numerous honors, including 17 Florida Sportscaster of the Year awards and the National Football Foundation's Chris Schenkel Award in 2013, which is presented annually to a broadcaster who has demonstrated long-time excellence in play-by-play announcing. Deckerhoff was enshrined in the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, becoming just the fourth broadcaster to receive that honor. He is also a member of the Florida State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2002), Florida Community College Activities Hall of Fame (2004) and Florida Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2024).
-BUCCANEERS-
