Nick Kayal is out at 102.5 the Game in Nashville. The morning host joined the Cromwell Media sports talker in 2018. He had co-hosted alongside former Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason and Braden Gall.
The remaining cast of The Morning Drive addressed Kayal’s exit on Tuesday’s show. Gall announced that Kayal had moved on and shared memories of working with Nick, particularly of their text message exchanges, which were often NSFW. Mason was blunt in saying that he did not like the decision. Executive producer Marquis Munson echoed that sentiment, saying that he relied on Nick to help him through the depression he felt upon first arriving in a new city.
Kayal addressed his exit on Twitter in a message that was mostly praising of his colleagues at The Game and in the Nashville media. He noted that at the moment he has no plans about what comes next for him and his family.
The morning show is now being billed as The Morning Drive with Braden Gall and Derrick Mason. Whether or not the show remains a duo or a third voice is added remains to be seen.
Kayal seemed to settle in well in Nashville. He joined The Game after enjoying a seven year stint at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. He also worked for SiriusXM’s Bleacher Report radio. He was gone from the sports radio circuit for nearly a year and a half due to partial paralysis of his left vocal cord before landing the morning gig at 102.5 The Game.
This bothers me 0%. A lot of the stuff that he said was a repeat of something I heard a broadcaster say the day before to the ‘T’. That’s unoriginal & piggybacking to me. Also, his ‘radio voice’ sounded forced & unnatural unlike the other co-hosts on his show. Lastly, I am no moral compass, but glorifying & making constant comments about his drinking of Tito’s & his apparent gambling problem were hard to listen to. Braden, Derrick, & Marquise are amazing &, to me, the best part of the show. I likened Kayal to Bishop on 104.5 & 104.5 is unlistenable. Kayal may have been an amazing coworker, friend, father, etc…. But, for this listener, relieved to not hear his voice in the morning.
I’m going to “blow a gasket” reading Josh’s comment on Nick Kayal. Nick Kayal, you’ll be missed buddy! I agree with Derek on this one.