Tony Rizzo is back. He says he nearly didn’t make it. The ESPN Cleveland host returned to the airwaves Monday after missing two weeks of programming. He used the occasion to publicly reveal, for the first time, that a major heart attack had sidelined him.
What We Know: Rizzo has anchored the Cleveland sports radio market for over three decades. He currently co-hosts The Really Big Show alongside Aaron Goldhammer and Chris Oldach, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Additionally, he hosts a YouTube-exclusive morning program. His absence had gone unexplained — until now.
What They Said: Tony Rizzo described the moment he had a heart attack “I got bagels for my mom. I drove them out to Middleburg Heights, and I came home. I’m getting chills talking about this. So, I got back to my home at 1130 and my chest siezed up, and I couldn’t breathe. I had a heart attack, a major heart attack. I knew something was really wrong. Because I’d never felt like that before in my life.”
Tony Rizzo described the fear in the moment “I couldn’t breathe, chest burning. Knew something was really, really wrong. I had never felt like that in my life. And I was really scared, really scared.”
Tony Rizzo on returning to work at ESPN Cleveland “I’m lucky to be alive. You know me. You know I’m not hospital guy. But I knew right away the good Lord let me know. Get your ass to the hospital. Something is very wrong. Had I waited about 45 minutes, I would have died.”
What Remains Unclear: Rizzo has not shared details about his diagnosis, treatment, or long-term recovery timeline.
What It Means: Rizzo is, without question, the voice of Cleveland sports radio. His return matters deeply to a loyal audience. At the same time, his health scare serves as a powerful reminder that even the most familiar voices are human. Additionally, it’s an important wake-up call for others to prioritize regular checkups, even when no day-to-day symptoms are present. Ultimately, moments like these reinforce how quickly life can change and why preventative care should never be overlooked. Hoping the best for Tony Rizzo moving forward.
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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.
