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Infamous MLB Announcer Thom Brennaman Lands New Job

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Few local MLB announcers are as infamous as Thom Brennaman, but the former Cincinnati Reds broadcaster is known for all the wrong reasons.

Brennaman was caught using homophobic language on a hot mic before a game in 2020. As he issued an awkward apology later in the evening, Nick Castellanos hit a home run and a meme was born.

Five years after the most embarrassing and viral moment of his career, Brennaman has taken a new job.

Brennaman will become the weekday morning host for news on Cincinnati's 700 WLW-AM, replacing Mike McConnell after the latter announced his retirement. The former Reds announcer will take over on Monday, occupying the 5-9 AM slot on the station.

Brennaman has returned to sports broadcasting in smaller capacities - Puerto Rican baseball and high school football - but his big break back into high-profile work came last college football season. He called national college football broadcasts for the CW, largely focusing on ACC and Pac-12 matchups.

In the years since his incident and subsequent resignation, Brennaman has shown remorse and has worked with the LGBTQ+ community to learn from the mistake that cost him his job.

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 19: General view as the sun sets after a strike out by Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park on August 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

“All I can do is what I’ve tried to do over the past two years, that’s learn and grow from the ignorant word I used in a flippant sort of way,” Brennaman said in 2022.

“And really, through my experiences and time with people in the gay community, I’ve learned a great deal. All you can do is the best you can do, and I’ve done that for two years, and I continue to learn and grow.

"I’m a better man today than the guy who sat up there in August of 2020; I’ll be a better broadcaster today than I was in August 2020 because of this whole experience and this whole journey.”

Brennaman will be moving from sports into news with his new job, but he's back in his former city after making a real effort to improve on his past behavior. We'll see what the future holds for the former Cincinnati Reds and NFL on FOX announcer with his foray into AM talk radio.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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