Mike Francesa isn’t going anywhere just yet. The longtime WFAN Radio afternoon host will continue in that role after signing a multi-year extension with the sports network, it was announced yesterday.
Francesa’s deal was set to expire early in 2014. The details of the new deal were not announced, but industry rumors say the contract runs through 2017 at $5 million per year.
When the contract expires, Francesa, 59, indicated he will retire.
“It will be for the duration, let’s put it that way,” Francesa said at the end of the opening segment of yesterday’s show. “That will be it. When we were done with this deal, we will be done, but that won’t be for a long time.”
Francesa has come under criticism in recent years as his confident attitude has angered some since partner Chris Russo left for Sirius/XM in 2008. This led to a slew of prank calls, mocking Twitter handles and YouTube clips, though Francesa’s show remains the most-listened-to in New York.
Francesa has been at WFAN since 1987. As part of his new deal, his Sunday morning show “The NFL Now” will be broadcast nationally on CBS Radio.
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished at WFAN,” Francesa said in a statement. “I am also honored and thankful to CBS Radio for its continued commitment, and most of all to the listeners for their enduring loyalty.”