Goodbye to curveballs and slam dunks. Hello to mob riots and campaign trails. For Will Cain, this is the perfect time to change uniforms.
Cain has completed his transition from sports back to news, and if his first few weeks co-hosting Fox and Friends Weekend is any indication, he seems quite comfortable. Like a free agent ballplayer changing teams in the prime of his career, Cain has grabbed the opportunity to build the next successful chapter of his on-air life.
Although he did appear on Fox and Friends a decade ago, this is the broadcast veteran’s first stint as a regular with the network, after previously starting successful media companies and working on-air in television news for other networks.
His background in the news world, however, was all before he landed at ESPN and truly made his national name. After joining the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” in 2015 and hosting his well-regarded ESPN Radio afternoon-drive program since 2018, Cain anticipated a successful leap back into a world far from pitching changes and 3rd down conversions.
“I am excited to join the team at ‘FOX & Friends Weekend’ and look forward to building upon my experience in sports, news and politics on the number one morning show in the country,” Cain told FoxNews.com before his first show last month. And what a time it is to be back in news for someone with the broadcasting chops and opinionated delivery such as Will Cain.
If you watched or listened to Cain work at ESPN over the past five years, you could tell he was unique. After all, this was a conservative-leaning guy working – actually excelling – at ESPN! That alone made you take notice. Whether delivering a radio monologue or taking part in a television debate with Stephen A. Smith, Cain came prepared to deliver compelling programming each day. At the same time, he quietly developed a behind-the-scenes reputation as a class act, always willing to help others in the field.
Take, for example, the day he helped entertain a group of students from Fordham University’s sports media powerhouse, WFUV Radio. After spending time behind the scenes discussing the sports media business, Cain allowed the students to watch his radio/television simulcast program from the control room. As if that weren’t enough, he invited one of the college broadcasting students onto the air for a 20-minute debate about one of the hot topics of the day. That just doesn’t happen in national sports radio! Cain helped give those aspiring sportscasters a day they’ll never forget, while creating a compelling segment of radio.
Will Cain worked on the television news side in the past, including hosting a show on Glenn Beck’s The Blaze network, as well as working as a CNN political contributor. By most standards, it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat in jumping into some of the day’s more sensitive and divisive topics with his co-hosts Jedediah Bila and Pete Hegseth. The task has been made easier because he has a history with the duo, co-hosting a news talk program on The Blaze.
“Some years ago we spent every night around a table, debating the issues that were important in that day’s news cycle,” Cain said during an introductory segment on Fox and Friends in mid-August. “Chemistry is one of those things that every television executive would like to think he can create, but it’s often magical. It takes trust, confidence and mutual respect. I can say walking in that the three of us genuinely have those three characteristics. I genuinely like these two people. I trust them and I respect their points of view. That does not mean I’m going to always agree with them, but I truly trust and respect them.”
Together, the three create a young, hip vibe for the Fox News morning program, and Cain has been willing to jump right into the mix and tackle some of today’s most contentious stories.
For example, with rioting and looting running rampant in many major U.S. cities this summer, Cain recently spent time talking with New York City police officers, residents and business owners. One current officer, who asked to be disguised so his identity wouldn’t become public, told Cain, “I never thought I would have to put this uniform on and be looked at as the enemy, and to be hated.” He followed up by telling Cain, “you would be crazy to take this job now in this day and age.” Quite a jarring difference for Cain – and one he has handled adroitly – after only weeks ago he was spending his afternoons discussing, for example, the challenges for baseball and football beginning their respective 2020 seasons.
Cain also waded into the political waters, commenting on last month’s Democratic National Convention by saying nominee Joe Biden’s speech “crossed the bar of being a smooth speech,” but also added “I found criticism of this president, criticism of this country, criticism of our history, but not much substance on how they would fix it.”
Will Cain has never been shy to offer his opinion, whether it be on The Will Cain Show or during his appearances on ESPN”s First Take. He has promised to continue bringing his unique style and wit to the more weighty and significant topics of the day with Fox.
“I can’t wait, I’m so excited to be back with these two and on Fox News,” Cain said. “We’re gonna have fun. We’re gonna pursue the truth.
As far as we can tell, Cain is fitting in just fine so far. He certainly hasn’t lost his fastball.
Rick Schultz is a former Sports Director for WFUV Radio at Fordham University. He has coached and mentored hundreds of Sports Broadcasting students at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Marist College and privately. His media career experiences include working for the Hudson Valley Renegades, Army Sports at West Point, The Norwich Navigators, 1340/1390 ESPN Radio in Poughkeepsie, NY, Time Warner Cable TV, Scorephone NY, Metro Networks, NBC Sports, ABC Sports, Cumulus Media, Pamal Broadcasting and WATR. He has also authored a number of books including “A Renegade Championship Summer” and “Untold Tales From The Bush Leagues”. To get in touch, find him on Twitter @RickSchultzNY.
