Dan Bernstein isn’t celebrating. The former 104.3 The Score host says he feels only sorrow over Friday’s exits of Mike Mulligan and Marshall Harris.
What We Know: Audacy fired Bernstein from The Score last March after a social media dispute, ending his 30-year run there. On Friday, the station parted ways with Mike Mulligan, a 23-year veteran, and Marshall Harris, a full-time host since 2024. Moreover, Bernstein at one time co-hosted middays with Harris. In addition, Score Vice President Mitch Rosen announced both exits in an internal staff memo. Additionally, a new morning co-hosted by Jarrett Payton and David Haugh is set to launch August 31. In the wake of the lineup change, Bernstein reflected with an emotional tone to the news on his Dan Bernstein Unfiltered podcast.
What They Said: (All quotes via Dan Bernstein Unfiltered):
Dan Bernstein on the departures of Mike Mulligan and Marshall Harris at 104.3 The Score: “I’m heartsick about what’s going on. These are my friends who are losing their jobs. These are my friends who are there and dealing with everything that’s happening around them. When you have 30 years of connection and sweat equity since 1995 of helping build that place into what it became. It’s not easy. There’s this sense out there that it would be some cold comfort. It’s not. These are my friends losing their jobs. It sucks.”
Dan Bernstein on his relationship with Marshall Harris and Mike Mulligan: “I think the world of Marshall Harris and Mike Mulligan. I know that both are going to be immensely successful in whatever they choose to do next. Mully and I were friendly before we even were colleagues when we were on the beat together. Some of the happiest times of my professional life. Just all the idle time in the press room with the late John Moon Mullen, Mully, and everybody that would be a part of that whole Bears experience. This is this is really hard. So, I just wish my friends the best.”
Dan Bernstein says his firing was warranted, Mulligan and Harris’ was not: “I deserved to be fired. They didn’t do anything wrong by firing me because I earned it. That’s the thing. Marshall didn’t. Mulligan didn’t. I did. So, even if I were to have a moment here or there to say, “Oh, well, you know, grumble, grumble. Well, that’s what you get.” There’s no standing there on my part because it wasn’t like I got shafted. I didn’t. If something like that happened again, they would be right in in doing what they did. It was bad.”
Dan Bernstein hopes for better days ahead for everyone: “These are very interesting times in this industry right now. I can understand why there is a presumption of certain emotions, but don’t lean into those presumptions too hard. We’re talking about real people and real jobs and people who have been working at various jobs within the industry… I’m hopeful for better times for everybody. I’m sad for my friends.”
What Remains Unclear: The station has yet to name a fill for Mulligan’s role in Chicago Bears gameday programming.
What It Means: Bernstein’s comments reject any easy narrative around The Score’s turmoil. Instead, he frames Friday’s cuts as personal loss, not vindication. Moreover, for an audience craving drama, that message complicates the story. Ultimately, it signals a station in flux, not a rivalry settled.
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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.