After more than 40 years in the radio industry, WBBM sports reporter Dave Kerner retired from the legendary all-news station Friday.
He previously worked at WBEN and WEBR in Buffalo, as well as WBNR in Beacon, New York. Kerner joined 670 The Score in 1997 before shifting to WBBM in 2004, where he has worked ever since.
“Looking back, I think it was a really, really good decision because that was a whole different atmosphere with professionals that have been in the radio news business for 20, 30, 40 years and I’m still doing sports,” Kerner told The Chicago Sun-Times of his move from The Score to WBBM. “That part was extremely rewarding.”
The 65-year-old Kerner said sports haven’t been as prominent on WBBM since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and felt it was time to step away. Former WBBM sports director Jeff Joniak has moved to ESPN 1000 after the station secured the radio broadcast rights to the Chicago Bears. Joniak is the play-by-play voice for the franchise. It remains to be seen whether WBBM will replace either Kerner or Joniak.
Affectionately known as “The Governor”, many honored their retiring colleague on social media.
