Just over a month after controversially laying off Greg Papa, KNBR announced a new agreement with Papa.
Papa, a beloved Bay Area broadcaster and play-by-play voice of the San Francisco 49ers, will host a new midday show, Lunch With Papa, with John Lund on KNBR. He will also provide “Niners Updates with Greg Papa” during the station’s existing morning and afternoon drive programs.
Lunch With Papa premieres later this month, according to the release, and will air weekdays from noon to 1 p.m.
“I’m thrilled to be back on The Sports Leader and even more thrilled to be working with my good friend John Lund again. Let’s do this!” Papa, 63, said in an official statement.
In a San Francisco Chronicle article published Aug. 2, Papa opened up to Eric Branch about his leukemia diagnosis and his miraculous recovery from near-fatal complications after a successful bone marrow transplant. Three days later, news broke of KNBR’s plan to lay off Papa and Greg Silver, his co-host.
“For decades, Greg Papa has been one of the defining voices of Bay Area sports radio,” Cumulus Media said in a statement after receiving immediate backlash for letting Papa go. “His knowledge, passion, and connection with his listeners helped shape KNBR into what it is today, and his contributions to the station will not be forgotten.
“We’re not able to comment on the specifics of his departure, but we want to be clear about this: our respect and gratitude for everything Greg has given to KNBR, its listeners, and its team runs deep. We are continuing to explore ways we can bring his voice back to the station, and we wish Greg strength, healing, and a full recovery.”
On Aug. 13, Papa sat down with NBC Bay Area and did not mince words.
“I was fully preparing to return to work,” Papa said. “There was never a discussion that that would not be the case. And then, one day, you get a phone call, and I thought it was a return-to-work plan. Again, I was cleared. My hematologist cleared me to do that. And they went the other way, and they chose to terminate my contract.
“So, I went from terminal to terminated, in a short period of time. But I’m also indestructible.”
More recently, two weeks ago, Papa appeared with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan and seemed as optimistic as one could be in his situation:
Along with his impending return to KNBR, Papa reportedly plans to return to the 49ers booth and “will take on an expanded role” at NBC Sports Bay Area throughout the NFL season.
About Megan Armstrong
Since first getting published as a student by the Kansas City Star in 2013, Megan Armstrong has gone wherever curiosity and stories have taken her, specializing in sports, media, music, and culture coverage. She also has an extensive background in interviewing and profiling public figures. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Boardroom, Bleacher Report, Esquire, GQ, GRAMMY.com, NYLON, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, and elsewhere.