When FS1 canceled Breakfast Ball, The Facility, and Speak earlier this summer, speculation quickly turned to what would happen to the hosts suddenly out of work. Among them was Craig Carton, who co-hosted Breakfast Ball with Danny Parkins and Mark Schlereth.
Almost immediately, talk began: Could Carton make a full-time return to WFAN in New York City?
Over the last two weeks, I’ve leaned on my programmer instincts to evaluate whether Carton could fit into the current WFAN lineup. After weighing the options, I’ve found simple arguments both for and against his return.
Let’s begin with why a return to WFAN makes sense for Craig Carton.
The Case for a Carton WFAN Return
Carton’s track record at WFAN speaks for itself. From his early success in Buffalo, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, to his top-rated stops in Denver and Fort Collins, Carton built a resume that eventually led him to WFAN, where he teamed with Boomer Esiason. Within a year, Boomer & Carton was the top-rated show in the key Men 25–54 demographic.
I had the pleasure of talking to Boomer Esiason about the early days of working with Carton. He told me about the endless amounts of fun he had working alongside Carton, but also the struggles at first. Two grown men getting used to working together with the pressure to perform is not easy. Once they found their balance of entertainment and sports, every day was a new day, said Esiason.
That’s what carried Boomer & Carton to dominate New York City morning drive for a decade.
Following his return to the station in 2020 alongside Evan Roberts, the numbers rolled in as well. Carton & Roberts became the top afternoon drive program in the city within the first full ratings book.
Less than three years into his return, Carton announced his plans to leave WFAN for FOX Sports, marking an end to his second stay at the station.
Why does a return to WFAN make sense for Craig Carton? Instant attention and instant ratings. Instant ratings mean the potential for more revenue. WFAN is already one of the top-billing FM stations in the country. Carton would be an injection of newfound opportunity for the station to benefit from.
It also makes sense because Craig Carton is the one thing that nearly every other free agent sports radio talent isn’t—a proven commodity in the largest market in the country. He brings a loyal following, strong digital numbers, and a name that resonates in an era when nostalgia drives so much of sports and media. At 56, his energy, sharpness, and ability to entertain remain intact. His digital reach with FOX Sports showed his adaptability in a changing landscape.
Carton’s name carries weight. His voice brings awareness. His skill set for entertaining sports radio is invaluable. Simply put, he’s still a star. Adding Carton to the WFAN in any capacity would instantly draw more spotlight to an already behemoth of a sports radio station.
“I’m not surprised because I made my name at WFAN. The mornings with Boomer [Esiason], and the two and a half years in afternoons with Evan [Roberts],” Carton told Barrett Media earlier this month. “I’m not surprised that people who like me and enjoy what I do would immediately ask the question. Well, he left WFAN to go to FOX. If he’s leaving FOX, is there a potential for a return? I’m not surprised those conversations happened amongst people who follow sports media.”
Carton even said he’d be open to a conversation about a potential return to WFAN.
“I’m blessed to be a New York radio hall of famer. I know I do it really well, and I enjoy doing it,” Carton told Barrett Media. “If the opportunity arose where WFAN would want to bring me back, I would certainly answer that phone call.”
For all those reasons listed above, it’s a no-brainer that a Craig Carton return would surely be a net positive for both WFAN and Carton. He comes home, and WFAN gets to put a new roof on the house. From a business perspective, a Carton return would be a home run.
The Case Against a Carton WFAN Return
As appealing as the idea may sound, the question becomes: where would Carton fit?
If you’re going to bring in a talent like Craig Carton, you want to make sure you place him in a daypart where he has the best opportunity not only to win in the ratings, but also with revenue. The two targets that fit both models are drive times: mornings and afternoons.
Looking at afternoon drive, Afternoons have thrived since Carton’s departure, with Tiki Barber seamlessly pairing with Evan Roberts. Barber brings credibility, nostalgia, and fresh perspective, while Roberts has proven himself as a strong lead. Together, they’ve stabilized the station after years of post-Francesa shuffling. Breaking them up now would risk undoing that progress.
Looking at morning drive, Esiason signed a multi-year contract extension last year at WFAN. He’s continued to build fun and energetic chemistry with Giannotti, who has performed extremely well since being named to the role in January 2018.
On its face, it would look terrible to the audience if WFAN were to simply swap in Carton for Giannotti. Unless it’s solely contract-related, there’s no reason why Giannotti should be replaced for a potential reunion between Esiason and Carton. The move would alienate listeners, and a three-man show would feel forced. Carton’s dominant personality thrives in a two-person setup, not a crowded one.
It’s what made Carton successful—why would he change?
The only timeslot that would make sense for a Carton return with the current lineup would be middays, which is currently held by Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata. When news broke about Carton being canceled by FOX Sports, Licata was not shy about setting the table for the rumor mill that began spinning.
“I’m not worried about Craigy coming back. I told it to his face,” Licata said in July. “This was years ago, whenever he came back the last time. You can come back all you want; you’re not taking my spot.”
Do you think Licata knew middays would be the only daypart in question? Why even address the rumor in the first place? However, why would you put a talent with Carton’s skill set, resume, and likely paycheck in middays, where the return on investment wouldn’t be as high as it would in drive time?
The Timing Isn’t Right, for Now
For WFAN and Audacy, the focus is on the future. A powerful brand built on names like Carton, Francesa, Russo, and so many others doesn’t need to lean into nostalgia to grow. There is no doubt that Craig Carton is a supremely talented individual—his run of success on sports radio speaks for itself.
However, a lot comes down to timing. Right now, the timing isn’t right for a return to WFAN. There’s no place that makes sense for the personality Carton brings in the current setup, and any addition would feel forced, causing disruption in the WFAN wheel.
The timing isn’t right, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a time that does fit. Esiason has been with WFAN for over twenty years and has begun stepping away from other projects to concentrate solely on the morning show. What’s to say Barber sticks around at WFAN if NFL Network or ESPN come calling for analyst work in the booth or studio? Or what if Carl Banks steps down from the Giants’ radio broadcasts? Barber has booth experience and is a Giants legend.
There could come a time when the idea feels more right than it does now.
What Carton should do in the meantime is exactly what he’s doing with FOX Sports and Red Seat Ventures—building what many sports radio talents should be doing: an online brand of his own. This adds even more value to the Carton portfolio if WFAN decides to pick up the phone. If he can combine his proven stat line with traditional metrics and a build an argument with rising digital metrics, he instantly becomes more valuable to WFAN. Make no mistake about it. Traditional sports radio stations need help cutting through the creator age we live in.
With the right support and timing, there’s no doubt that Carton could dominate the digital landscape for New York sports fans. That would add another layer to his résumé for WFAN to consider when the timing is better for both parties.
For now, though, a return to WFAN isn’t the right move. The station is thriving with its current lineup, and Carton’s larger-than-life personality doesn’t have a natural home. But should the landscape shift, don’t be surprised if his name once again rises to the top of the conversation.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
There is a huge split on the actual performance of afternoon drive.. ESPN folded up shop in the NYC FM broadcasts, but the ratings on WFAN have barely improved.. as the sole game in town their ratings are a mere 3.0 in the month of August.. you would think it close to double with ESPN out of the mix but that has not happened. I’ve been an avid listener to WFAN for years and I think Evan Roberts is unlistenable. I think he’s become a wannabe shock jock buffoon, condescending and overall obnoxious. They have that equally insufferable guy Morash chime in with a douchey Giants takes, the cinco de five-o which is just pathetic.. afternoon drive is awful. If I was an executive as ESPN, I would be calling a meeting to talk about getting back into the FM market of NYC, hire Carton to be the afternoon drive host, Michael Kay in the mornings, and Alan Hahn in the mid-days.. that lineup would wreck the current WFAN lineup.. they need to pony up because Carton would destroy Tiki and Roberts in the afternoon.