Total Pro Sports
Greg Papa, the popular radio play-by-play voice for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, announced that he is stepping aside to undergo cancer treatment.
Papa, who has called 49ers games on KNBR since 2018, announced his cancer diagnosis in a statement shared by the radio station on X/Twitter. Papa didn’t specify what type of cancer it was, but said he’s “currently undergoing treatment” and looks “forward to returning soon.”
Greg Papa’s midday show co-host, Greg Silver, will continue hosting the program while Papa is on leave. Papa’s statement notes that their show will have several guests to co-host with Silver during his hiatus:
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 1, 2025
Greg’s older brother, Gary, died of prostate cancer at the age of 55 on June 19, 2009. Gary Papa was a sportscaster for 33 years, working at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia before his untimely passing.
The 62-year-old Greg has over four decades of broadcasting under his belt. The Syracuse University graduate got his first break when he called Indiana Pacers games from 1984 to ’86, followed by broadcasting stints with the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball and later the San Antonio Spurs.
Greg Papa then began a 22-year stint as the radio voice of the Oakland Raiders from 1997 to 2018, working San Francisco Giants radio broadcast from 2004 to 2008 as well. Papa was let go by the Raiders after the 2018 season, which many believed was because of a well-known feud with owner Mark Davis.
He was named the new radio play-by-play voice of the 49ers in 2019. Since he entered their broadcast booth, the team has played in four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls.
Also Read: NFL Fans Are Officially Done With Cris Collinsworth
