NewsNation

Thom Brennaman to call college football 4 years after using slur

(NewsNation) — Sports broadcaster Thom Brennaman will be back in a national broadcasting nearly four years after he lost his job for making a homophobic slur on air.

Brennaman will call college football on The CW this fall as his career takes a redemptive arc following a career-altering night Aug. 19, 2020.


While calling a Cincinnati Reds-Kansas City Royals game, Brennaman was caught on a a hot mic referring to San Francisco as “one of the f– capitals of the world.”

Now, Brennaman says he’s grateful for a second chance after announcing Puerto Rican baseball games, as well as Cincinnati high school games since his firing from the Reds and Fox Sports.

“I had to go get together with a lot of people in the gay community and just listen to what that word that I said meant to them,” Brennaman said to NewsNation of his experiences following the controversy.

“I’m excited to have a job again,” Brennaman said. “That’s what’s really exciting. It’s been a four-year run where I’ve not been involved in sports television as I did for the prior 31 years. So, I’m just so grateful to see CW get a chance to come back.”

Brennaman will be the lead announcer for The CW’s college football season, which will include the ACC, as well as select Pac-12 games. The CW is owned by NewsNation parent company Nexstar.

For The CW, its football broadcasting season gets underway Aug. 31 when Idaho State plays Oregon State. It will be more than just another four-quarter game for Brennaman.

“It’ll be a very emotional day for sure,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to it.”