Radio Voice Of The Bucs, Gene Deckerhoff, Will Retire After 2025 Season
December 31st, 2025
Finishing career.
The end of an era is upon us.
As we end 2025, so too will a Bucs era soon end. Legions of Bucs fans were born, went to school, graduated from college, got married, had a family and knew no other radio voice of the Bucs than Gene Deckerhoff.
That will come to a close when the Bucs play their final snap of the 2025 season.
Today, Dec. 31, 2025, Deckerhoff announced he will retire after 37 seasons behind the radio mic of the Bucs.
Only two other NFL radio play-by-play voices have worked longer for their teams, Merrill Reese of the Eagles and Brad Sham of the Cowboys.
“For 37 seasons, Gene Deckerhoff’s voice has set the scene for the most iconic moments in our franchise’s history, and his signature calls will forever resonate with Buccaneers fans,” Buccaneers co-owner Bryan Glazer said in a press release. “His passion, authenticity, and unmistakable voice created memories that have been cherished and enjoyed by countless generations of Buccaneers fans.
“As he closes out his extraordinary journey, we congratulate Gene on a remarkable broadcasting career and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.”
Deckerhoff, who turned 80 earlier this year, said the time was “right” to step away.
“Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” said Deckerhoff. “I’ve had the fortune to form meaningful relationships with players, coaches and staff members as well as interact with thousands of Buccaneers fans everywhere in the world.
“My wife, Ann, and I are grateful to the Glazer family for allowing us to be a part of the Buccaneers organization for so many wonderful years. I am equally thankful to all the members of the radio crew and the partners I have had with me through the years – particularly Dave Moore, who has been by my side for the past 19 years. I will miss doing what I love, but now is the right time to step away.”
Deckerhoff is a Sunshine State legend. He began calling Florida State basketball games in 1974, two years before former FSU football coaching legend Bobby Bowden showed up on campus. He took over the football calls in 1979.
In 1989 through 2022, Deckerhoff did both Florida State and Bucs games, which made for interesting travel journeys, especially when the Bucs played games in Europe.
Deckerhoff called two Bucs’ Super Bowl wins and all three Florida State national championship games.
Deckerhoff is a friend to all, whether big-timers like Bob Costas, who annually sends Deckerhoff birthday wishes, or hanging with an ordinary blue-collar Bucs fan.
You won’t find a nicer guy than Deckerhoff, always with a warm smile and ready to talk Bucs football.
Honestly, Joe doesn’t know what Bucs games will sound like without him.
Joe thinks there’s plenty of room in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor for Deckerhoff.
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December 31st, 2025 at 11:34 am
wow. not the season I would want as the send off. Will miss Gene’s voice!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:35 am
Hate to see Gene go. Might as well clean house top to bottom now for sure.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:37 am
2025? That’s a lot of seasons!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:39 am
I have never heard a Bucs game without him. A massive part of my childhood and growing up was listening to his voice in our Super Bowl 37 DVD.
Going to miss him big time, an absolute beast.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:42 am
Talk about the end of an era. I also don’t remember hearing anyone else on the radio since I’ve been a fan, though I probably did at some point. Iconic and always professional. He will be missed.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:45 am
Maybe he can’t take some folks with him?
December 31st, 2025 at 11:45 am
What a GREAT RUN !
Enjoy your retirement Gene !
I wish radio was synced with the TV broadcast!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:45 am
Especially those with “No Answers”.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:49 am
Sad day for Buc Nation. He has a great legacy for Bucs and Noles fans.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:53 am
Love you, Gene!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:54 am
We used to turn the volume on the TV down and listen to Gene on the radio. Part of Bucs history. Definitely, ring of honor.
Go Bucs
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Mike
December 31st, 2025 at 11:55 am
I have always preferred Gene to the vast majority of the people that call bucs games. Just last week I switched over when Jonathan Vilma irritated me past the point.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:56 am
I started hearing his voice as a kid through Sirius NFL Radio as a kid when I often couldn’t watch games here in Texas. I’ll miss him!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:58 am
My kids only know Gene. Gonna be a different world without him but he’s been great for the Bucs. We’ll be lucky to get someone as good and distinctive as Gene next season.
December 31st, 2025 at 11:59 am
ROH
well after James Wilder!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:00 pm
I wonder what the first Buccaneer touchdown Gene called?
Joes ???
December 31st, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Time to take that retirement out for a “woodshed whoopin”! Gonna miss him.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:05 pm
End of an era for sure. Never watch the games real time unless it’s prime time. I’ve always enjoyed sports via radio.
Good luck Gene!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:09 pm
gene = buccaneers radio……………..for life !
December 31st, 2025 at 12:10 pm
and when vilma calls a bucs game…
it. is. the. worst. thing. ever.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Watching Belowszo demotivate the team and excel at regression has to be bad for Gene’s health. No wonder he’s stepping away. Love ya Gene.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Such an iconic voice. He’s been so fun to listen to. Its time forsurr to call it quits for he has had trouble with health and has been making quite a few mistakes. End of an era forsure. He’s been calling games for my entire life (31) I assume the sideline guy will takeover. Go bucs! Get this win and hopefully saints win so we get another game with Gene
December 31st, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Gene Deckerhoff needs to be the next Ring of Honor inductee.
He will be missed on game day. Thanks for all the memories, Gene.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:16 pm
@adam from my
He’s insufferable. Schlereth is a close second. I had trouble syncing 98 Rock with the TV broadcast all season — this week and (hopefully at least one more) are definitely going to be “radio only” for us.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Love Love Love Gene D’s calls on the radio being a life long FSU fan and a life long bucs fan have been awesome listening to you Sir. My God bless you and your family in your father endeavors AKA retirement. Love you Gene ♥️
December 31st, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Love you Gene! A true legend – thank you for everything Sir!
“Run Michael run Michael run!” Is one of my favorites. I was at the game with my now deceased dad when Michael Spurlock ran the kickoff back for the first time in franchise history. We jumped up and down and cried like little kids. A memory I will cherish forever!!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:34 pm
I blame Todd for this too. He was going to call canes until he was 100 until this season!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Best in the business, hands down!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Such a class act! He always made you feel like the Bucs were heading to the Super Bowl no matter what the record said. Put him in the Ring during this game at halftime
December 31st, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Wishing you the best Gene!
Thank you for your excitement.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:53 pm
A real legend indeed. Gene and his magnificent voice will be missed. We all have had the honor of listening to him for years. Wishing him the best retirement ever!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Back in 1987 the blackout days.
Gene was all we had if we didn’t go to the game.
A lot of us didn’t go to the game.
Go Gene have a nice retirement buddy!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Saw that coming. He had health issues this year.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:05 pm
Poor Gene. Love that dude. He didn’t deserve to go out like this.
Another casualty of a team that just quit
December 31st, 2025 at 1:17 pm
There’s no replacing Deckerhoff. He’s been terrific through the years.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:22 pm
Put Gene in the Ring of Honor 2026!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Gene is the best. He will be missed!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Allsott up the gut!! Classic.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:33 pm
2025 Bucs were so bad, it made him quit
December 31st, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Wow, it won’t be the same without Mean Gene in the booth. Been listening to him since his first year in Tampa with Jesse Ventura and Al Keck – and I listened to him a lot since nearly all the home games were blacked out. Then later, as I went from a teen to an adult, from a bedroom, to renting apartments, to having a country club home, for decades I’d mute the TV and put on the radio. I wish you nothing but the best!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:44 pm
@Muscle Hampster
That’s exactly what I thought. Even Gene is walking away from it all because he’s had enough, too!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Agree with everyone who says Gene should be in the Ring of Honor. Absolutely.
Meanwhile we need a new category, or club.
The Sewer of Shame.
Tood Belowszo is the inaugural inductee.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Team been so bad that Gene had to throw the towel in. Smh
December 31st, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Can this season possibly get worse?!!!
Thank you, Gene, you will be missed!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:48 pm
FOR THOSE OF US NOW OUT OF MARKET, PLEASE WORK IT OUT SO WE CAN ALL HEAR GENE SATURDAY ON THE APP!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:48 pm
I will miss him. He is a great one. He did a great job.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:50 pm
He was up there with Cosell and Dandy Don
December 31st, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Ring of Honor for gene!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Gene is a treasure! Enjoy retirement sir!
December 31st, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Thank you Gene you have brought Buccaneer’s football to life every game day for those that can’t watch the game. You have always been a pleasure. Joe I hope the next voice of Buccaneers is T J Reeves as he did a hell of a job filling in early this year.
December 31st, 2025 at 2:01 pm
“Run, Michael, Run!”
Best call ever!
December 31st, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Gene is 80 years old and had health issues all year. That’s why he’s retiring. Not because of the state of the Bucs.
Expect others to retire this year as well.
Tom Moore is 87, for example.
Mike Evans might retire.
Lavante David might retire.
It’s just a good time for it.
December 31st, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Gonna miss you Gene. ‘Alstott goes up the gut” You are a first ballot ring Of Honor for us.
December 31st, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Gene Dekerhoff is and always will be the Voice of the Buccaneers in my opinion. I always wanted to listen to him rather than the network voices we get stuck with. I’ll never forget him saying “They broke our hearts” “We are one step away from the Promise Land “ “3-2-1 Touchdown Buccaneers!!” “Fire them Cannons” “Bucs Win ! Bucs Win !”
We will all miss you Gene !!
Go Bucs !!
December 31st, 2025 at 2:23 pm
I was on the Bucs small internal security team for 5 seasons, 2012-2016. I have some great lifetime memories in that span. One of the best is getting to meet Gene at the team hotel in Miami for a 2012 preseason game. Truly a class act and 100% genuine of an announcer and a human being..
December 31st, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Can we get an A.I. version of Gene calling games for 2026 and beyond?
Is that asking too much?
December 31st, 2025 at 2:26 pm
One more reason to watch the 50th anniversary documentary, he should be all over that thing!
December 31st, 2025 at 2:35 pm
BucsMinisterFuller Says:
December 31st, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Can we get an A.I. version of Gene calling games for 2026 and beyond?
Is that asking too much?
———-
Oh man, that is a great idea. And yes, if Gene agreed to some sort of licensing deal, you could absolutely have an AI Gene doing it forever.
I love that idea – and it’s absolutely doable with today’s tech.
That should be a feature of the NFL Game Pass — choose whatever legendary announcers you want calling any game. Could have Gene on play-by-play and Madden on commentary if you wanted to.
December 31st, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Man, for all the hell the Bucs gave Joe for “Den of Depression” — the angry, vicious texts Joe would get from Bucs types in the middle of the night — Joe can only imagine how folks at One Buc Palace would freak out on Joe for called the stadium “Sewer of Shame.” LOL!!!
December 31st, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Another Gene classic — “when toe meets leather”
‘74 Bucs Fan — I shared the same experience as you did with your dad. Those were days.
Look up “class act” in the dictionary — there’s a picture of Gene!
Thank you, Gene Deckerhoff!
December 31st, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Joe – blame Aqualung for any blowback, meanwhile….classic Gene…..
“You go Joe! You goe Joe! I haven’t seen Joe Jurevicius run that fast ever!”
“Bucs win the old fashioned way. With a 62 yard field goal! Matt Bryant is my hero!”
“There it is! The dagger’s in! Bucs are gonna win the Super Bowl!”
December 31st, 2025 at 4:00 pm
hes a legend . for the better it got uncomfortable for me listening dave moore correcting him.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:13 pm
“Matt Bryant is my hero!!” The call of the 62 yard field goal to beat the Eagles is one of my top Bucs memories.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:16 pm
He’s had enough!
December 31st, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Thank you Gene for all the memories. You will be missed and you will always be with us as a Buc.
Thank you.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Nothing better than 10…5…3.2.1 TD Buccaneers!!!!
TOUCHDOWN!!!!
Sad day. I hope we clean house of everybody…Licht, Arians, Moore, Bowles…everybody. Start fresh.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:38 pm
Even Gene couldn’t stomach this team any longer.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:53 pm
“Alstott up the gut!!!”
He needs to be in the ring of honor on Saturday.
Yet another thing has been ruined by Bowles.
He sent Brady into retirement as a loser.
Now he sends Gene away on a wasted season.
Please fire him after this last game.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Aqualung
That Joe Jurevicious call gives me chills Every. Single. Time.
You go Joe.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Gene is our Chick Hearn
Maybe Joe can ask Ira to nominate Mean Gene for the radio-TV award, get him into Canton with our other HOFers
December 31st, 2025 at 5:12 pm
My wife and I used to listen to Gene out by the community pool while attending law school in the early 1990’s. As Warren Zevon would say, Gene was an “excitable boy.” He was fun to listen to. For tackles, he would often say the back was “bulldogged down.” Enjoy your retirement Gene. Well deserved!
“3-2-1 Touchdown, Tampa Bay!”