Details, Details, Details For Tony Castricone
July 22nd, 2026
New Bucs radio play-by-play man Tony Castricone.
So how will the guy replacing Gene Deckerhoff perform?
(First, the Bucs should put Deckerhoff in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor this year. Why wait? The guy is 80 years old. He’s a legendary play-by-play voice. What a tragedy it would be if the Bucs wait too long and Deckerhoff isn’t there to savor his inevitable induction.)
That guy is Tony Castricone, who will take over radio play-by-play for the Bucs in their preseason opener next month. He comes to Tampa after calling football and men’s basketball games at the University of Washington.
Castricone sat down with The Rondé Barber Show this week and explained how he’s wanted to be a play-by-play man since he was a kid — and how he came to the business with no connection to broadcasting after growing up on a 46-acre pine tree farm.
What’s Castricone’s approach? He’s been grinding since Day 1 — as in the Bucs’ Day 1.
Castricone described his summer process of reading every Buccaneers box score in history and then pulling highlights of key moments. Bucs staff has been helping him, he said, and he’s poring over games daily.
“What takes good play-by-play to great play-by-play is context,” Castricone said. “That’s why I’m drinking from the firehose right now going back to 1976 trying to learn all those moments.”
Passion defines Castricone, he said.
“I stand through games. I pace in the booth. I’m a high-energy person,” Castricone said. “You can probably feel that when I’m calling a game,”
Castricone talked for a good while about his craft and defining the difference between good and great in his role.
It sure sounds like the Bucs are in great hands.
July 22nd, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Good luck filling Gene’s shoes.
July 22nd, 2026 at 6:40 pm
So, what happened to the “big news” on a possible John Gruden announcement upcoming… Now, is this still a thing!? I’ve been wondering about it all week!!!! Unless, I was just dreaming… I’m pretty sure that Ira was telling T-Krass on WDAE last week, about a BIG announcement coming soon about “Chucky” being the new (he said “play-by-play” guy, but I assumed) “Color-Guy!!!!”
I know that Gruden was also talking about wanting to be a “play-by-play” guy and all that! BUT, I’m thinking SURELY they won’t back out on ‘their word’ like that… And, right after hiring the guy!? Especially, coming all the way from WASHINGTON Friggin’ STATE. I think Gruden’s ‘analysis’ as a Color-Dude, would be waaayyy better anyway… HE was made for IT. Hell, I’d LOVE TO SEE-IT (or hear-it LoL). It would be FANTASTIC. Just Absolutely, PERFECT. I really hope they do.
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:03 pm
Gene, nice guy, and he routinely got the wrong receiver or called a play wrong. And that was part of his charm. Remember him and Al Keck and Jesse the Body Ventura in late 80s. Poor Gene, having to put up with the nonsense, but it was entertaining — when the team was not.
I do agree ROH and now, not posthumous.
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Oh Lord, I forgot about having Ventura in the booth! Ah, memories
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Why not Minot
Parnell Dickenson
Dave Pear
Neal Colzie
Ike Hagins
Jimmy Dobois
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:04 pm
University of Washington… why am I not surprised 😲
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Dude he seems great i’m stoked Go bucs and toney!
July 22nd, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Bring on Gruden!
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Gene needs to be in the Ring of Honor next. Exactly right- do it while he can feel the love.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:26 pm
I already love this guy! He won’t flunk it up every other sentence. 😑
July 22nd, 2026 at 11:53 pm
SB~LV…what about Wilder….j/k wit ya.
July 23rd, 2026 at 12:19 am
He’s not going to fill Gene’s shoes – but he’s not bad by any means. A bit generic sounding – he’s be hard to pick out of a line-up of ‘modern’ announcers, but does have good energy. I think it will be different enough that he shouldn’t get rejected by fans.
July 23rd, 2026 at 12:45 am
Rod Munch Says:
July 23rd, 2026 at 12:19 am
“He’s not going to fill Gene’s shoes…”
Gene couldn’t even TIE his shoes, smh.
“I think it will be different enough that he shouldn’t get rejected by fans.”
Different, as in competent?