Colin Cowherd on Radio Hall of Fame induction: ‘It’s a big deal for me’

Whether you’re a fan or not, Colin Cowherd’s influence on sports radio is undeniable. This year, the Fox Sports personality and former ESPN host will be honored in the Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.

When the news of his Hall of Fame induction sank in, Cowherd didn’t hold back on how much it truly means to him, despite his usually unflappable demeanor.

“It’s a huge deal. I don’t get terribly emotional about stuff,” Cowherd admitted. “I’ve seen everything now at this point. But my wife knows how much it means. My friends know how much it means. It’s a big deal for me. I don’t want to be congratulatory, but yeah, in my life, it’s been one of my goals.”

Cowherd’s phone buzzed nonstop with congratulatory messages from longtime friend Joe Fortenbaugh to former bosses alike. One notable exception was Danny Parkins, the Breakfast Ball co-host, who purposely held off, knowing he’d have the chance to congratulate Colin in person on The Colin Cowherd Podcast.

“You inspired people like Nick [Wright] and my generation to do radio,” Parkins said. “And then Nick and I would always joke…that you also kind of ruined the next generation of radio hosts, because people would try to be you. But your brain is so singular in terms of the analogies and the comparisons. It was an amazing thing. And then you would hear people try to be you and it’s like, ‘No, man, this is a one of one talent.’ You crushed it in TV and podcasting and all that, but it was made for radio.”

“You really deserve it. I don’t know how many more people in generations after you — if any — will have a big impact on the genre of radio, just because it’s changed,” Parkins continued. “There’s going to have to be a podcasting Hall of Fame. People younger than Colin Cowherd that made an impact in radio. It’s a short list, man. It’s just not as influential anymore, sadly. You’re probably one of the last radio titans. Other people will get in. They’ll keep inducting people. But in terms of people who meant more to the medium to you…you’re one of the last ones, man. You meant a ton to radio.”

And radio has meant a ton to Cowherd.

At 61, Cowherd began his broadcasting career as the play-by-play voice for the Las Vegas Stars, then the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. After roles in Las Vegas, Tampa, and Portland, he joined ESPN Radio in 2004, taking over the late-morning slot with his show The Herd, quickly emerging as one of the network’s biggest stars.

Cowherd later hosted ESPN’s SportsNation from 2009-12. In 2015, he jumped to Fox Sports amid the launch of FS1, and unlike many peers, he has remained a steady presence for over a decade. Earlier this year, he signed a new three-year deal despite ESPN’s reported interest in bringing him back.

Part of the new contract involved moving his operations from Los Angeles to Chicago, which is conveniently close to the Swissôtel Hotel, where his Radio Hall of Fame induction will take place on October 30.