On Sunday, Kevin Harlan will make broadcast history as he ties the late Jack Buck for the most consecutive Super Bowls called. Broadcasting Super Bowl LIII on Westwood One Radio from Atlanta, GA will be Harlan’s ninth straight year calling the contest.
Harlan will provide the game’s radio play-by-play alongside his color analyst, Kurt Warner after broadcasting the last eight Super Bowls with Boomer Esiason. Although most of the country consumes the Super Bowl by watching on television, the radio broadcast still garners more than 20 million listeners throughout the game.
“I’m reminded by my executive producer Howard Deneroff that any of these calls can live forever in terms of chronicling these historic games,” said Harlan who is no stranger to unlikely calls going viral. Two years ago the broadcaster jokingly provided play-by-play of a fan running on the field during a regular season NFL game which quickly turned into one of his most famous calls.
“You better make sure that you are on your ‘A’ game. I certainly keep that first and foremost in my mind that any play needs to be treated as that play. In terms of being sharp, on my game and ready to go, I love the fact that it’s that way,” added Harlan.
At first, Harlan didn’t realize Super Bowl LIII was a milestone until he received an email from a friend.
“I had no idea about it,” Harlan told Justin Terranova of the New York Post. “Now, I am even more excited and honored than ever. Unbelievable.”
For the 58-year old Harlan, the feat is special and the opportunity to call the Super Bowl doesn’t get old.
“I broadcast many of those Super Bowls in my room when I was 12, 13, 14 years old. … It’s not lost on me how unbelievable and lucky it is for me to do this. … I don’t want to build it up too much, because even for the greatest performers there can be a moment of pause knowing how many people are listening and how important this broadcast is.
“The last thing I tell myself is, ‘It’s just another game’ and I have to treat it like that. All while winking to myself because if I build it up too much you can be stricken with fear by just how many people are listening and how these plays are replayed forever.”
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
