SportsTalk 790 midday host and former NFL offensive lineman Greg Koch has revealed he will be leaving his radio program after this week to focus on his health. Koch, 64, was diagnosed a year ago with Parkinson’s disease. The announcement was made today on 790’s airwaves and first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Koch joined 790 in 2012, and has been a fixture in middays for the station working alongside former NFL defensive lineman N.D. Kalu. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1977, and played nine seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1987.
The radio station has not yet released an official statement about the situation or details of how they will proceed moving forward. The announcement though is currently available on 790’s website.
“I want to concentrate on feeling better,” Koch told his listeners. “Doing the show, you’re up at 6:30 and not done until 1, and I need to work on more important things. The doctor tells me that if I want to travel, I need to do it while I can walk well, because the time will come when I need assistance.”
During the show, Koch described some of the battles he’s dealt with recently. Among the setbacks were losing his sense of smell, suffering from cataracts, and experiencing sleep disorders. The discomfort became so intense that it resulted in Koch fracturing his nose and injuring his back throwing himself out of bed.
As he announced his forthcoming exit, Koch shared how much he’d miss working with his running mate Kalu. Koch described his on-air partner as a “genuine guy who’s opened his eyes to a lot things in life.” He added “We never planned anything. Most people set out their show segments, and we wanted to do our show like we were in a barbershop and talk about what we wanted to talk about. We didn’t always agree, but we could have a discussion. I wish more people were like that.”
