Veteran ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough has been named the 2025 National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association, earning the honor for the first time in his distinguished career.
The award was revealed to McDonough in a surprise announcement delivered by ESPN college football analyst and longtime broadcast partner Greg McElroy. A video of the moment was shared publicly, capturing McDonough’s trademark mix of humility and humor.
“I’ve joked I’ve been the Susan Lucci of that award,” McDonough said, referencing the actress who famously endured years of nominations before finally winning a Daytime Emmy. The comparison resonates with many in the industry, as McDonough has long been regarded as one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting.
Now 63, McDonough has built a career defined by versatility, preparation, and credibility across multiple sports and platforms. His tenure at ESPN began in 1989, with a brief departure in the late 1990s to work exclusively for CBS. Over the decades, he has called some of the most prominent events in American sports. This includes the World Series, NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, Olympic Games, Monday Night Football, and all four major golf championships.
McDonough also spent 15 seasons as the lead voice for Saturday afternoon college football games on ABC, a role that helped cement his standing as one of the sport’s premier narrators. Today, he remains a centerpiece of ESPN’s college football coverage while also serving as the network’s lead NHL play-by-play announcer.
During the announcement, McElroy praised McDonough’s leadership and influence, both on the air and behind the scenes.
“We’re super fired up about this,” McElroy said. “I don’t think it could be more well-deserved. He is our leader, our patriarch. He is Sean McDonough, and officially the 2025 NSMA Sportscaster of the Year.”
McDonough’s path to national prominence began unusually early. At just 19 years old, he became the voice of the Syracuse Chiefs while still a student at Syracuse University. That early opportunity opened the door to a high-profile role as the television play-by-play announcer for the Boston Red Sox. McDonough held the position he held from 1988 to 2004. During that span, he earned four New England Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Play-by-Play.
In 2019, McDonough returned to the Red Sox as part of the team’s radio broadcast crew. Adding another chapter to his long-standing connection with the franchise.
His contributions have been widely recognized beyond this latest honor. In 2021, McDonough was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame, a testament to a career marked by consistency, adaptability, and trust from audiences and peers alike.
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