The rankings for NFL radio announcers for the 2025 season have been unveiled, revealing distinct perspectives from fans across the league. More than 3,500 individual votes were collected to evaluate the performance of radio booths for all 32 teams. Fans rated their announcers on a traditional A to F scale, which was then converted into numerical grades for comparisons.
Key Highlights from the Rankings
This year marks the inaugural ranking of NFL radio teams by Awful Announcing. The methodology for these ratings closely follows previous sports polls, but NFL radio teams garnered substantial engagement, resulting in over 3,500 votes, exceeding those from college radio polls. However, this total falls short compared to MLB radio team ratings.
Top and Bottom Performers
The rankings revealed a tiered performance level among teams, with the Green Bay Packers taking the top spot, while the Miami Dolphins found themselves at the bottom.
- 1. Green Bay Packers: Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren – 3.11 (most common grade: A)
- 2. Arizona Cardinals: Dave Pasch and A.Q. Shipley – 3.10
- 3. New York Jets: Bob Wischusen and Anthony Becht – 3.03
- 32. Miami Dolphins: Jimmy Cefalo and Joe Rose – 1.98 (most common grade: C)
- 31. Jacksonville Jaguars: Frank Frangie and Jeff Lageman – 2.01
- 30. Tennessee Titans: Taylor Zarzour and Dave McGinnis – 2.07
Detailed Analysis of Selected Announcers
Each announcing team received extensive feedback, highlighting both praise and criticism. Notable observations for several teams are summarized below.
- Miami Dolphins: Criticism centered around play-by-play announcer Jimmy Cefalo, described by some fans as the “worst in the business.” Commenters noted issues with homerism and lack of clarity during plays.
- New England Patriots: Fans were divided over Bob Scocci and Scott Zolak, praising their enthusiasm but criticizing Zolak for overdramatic antics during calls.
- Carolina Panthers: Showcased a mix of rotating analysts, which drew mixed reviews. Some praised the play-by-play, while others cited a lack of consistency.
- Green Bay Packers: Larrivee was lauded for his experience and ability to engage listeners, making him a beloved figure among Packers fans.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Dan Hoard received accolades for his top-tier performance, with listeners enjoying his storytelling and analytical approach.
Conclusion on NFL Radio Announcer Rankings
The evaluations provided by fans through this voting process shed light on the diverse experiences of local NFL radio broadcasts. While some announcers drew significant praise for their dedication and professional execution, others faced serious criticism, marking a notable dichotomy in the overall rankings. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if teams make adjustments to improve their broadcast quality in response to fan feedback.
