Greg Papa said KNBR fired him while he was recovering from leukemia, ending the longtime Bay Area broadcaster’s midday program with Greg Silver. Papa described the turn with a pointed quip, saying he went “from terminal, to terminated,” as the station reshaped its daytime lineup.
What happened
KNBR terminated Papa from his talk-show position during his recovery, bringing his midday run with Silver to a close. John Lund is set to take over the midday slot as part of the lineup change.
The decision followed an extended and serious medical ordeal for Papa. He spent 78 days hospitalized after receiving a bone marrow transplant and experienced a period of lung failure during that stay.
Papa’s remark captured the abrupt shift from a life-threatening illness to the loss of his radio program. No further details about the station’s decision or the wider daytime reshuffle were provided.
Why it matters
Papa has been the San Francisco 49ers’ radio play-by-play voice since 2019, giving his recovery and availability added importance beyond KNBR’s weekday schedule. His presence has been part of the team’s broadcasts for the past seven seasons.
His KNBR talk-show job was separate from his position in the 49ers booth. The end of the midday program therefore does not, based on the available information, establish any change to his play-by-play duties.
Still, the timing puts attention on whether Papa will be ready to resume that role when the 49ers return to game action. His health recovery, rather than the talk-radio lineup change itself, is the central factor surrounding his broadcast availability.
By the numbers
Papa, 63, has worked in Bay Area broadcasting for 42 years. His career includes 53 team seasons, reflecting a long run across the region’s sports media landscape.
His 78-day hospitalization underscores the severity of the leukemia treatment and recovery he described. That stretch included the bone marrow transplant and lung failure, placing the employment change against the backdrop of a major health crisis.
What to watch next
The next significant development will be an update on Papa’s availability for 49ers broadcasts during the 2026 preseason. With his KNBR midday tenure over and Lund set to assume the slot, attention now shifts to Papa’s recovery and whether he can return to the booth.
Until an availability update arrives, his status for preseason broadcasts remains unresolved. The separation between his KNBR program and his 49ers assignment will be important as that timeline becomes clearer.