NFL on FOX analyst Greg Olsen was once considered a strong candidate to host on WFAN, according to former station co-host Craig Carton. The behind-the-scenes story dates back to 2016 or 2017, when Carton and Boomer Esiason were anchoring the station’s morning show.
Carton said Olsen, then a tight end with the Carolina Panthers, appeared on the program as a guest. “I thought he was terrific,” Carton recalled on The Craig Carton Show with Chris McMonigle.
“We were all like, man, that Greg Olsen’s gonna be great. Greg Olsen’s got a future in the media. He might be a great sports talk show host,” said Carton.
According to Carton, the station had even planned for Olsen to temporarily fill in for Esiason during a week when Carton would also be on air. He said the idea was to have Olsen ready in case Esiason decided to leave WFAN permanently.
“If the big fella ever said, ‘You know what, I’m done,’ I had a replacement for him,” Carton explained.
Olsen’s short-term hosting stint, however, never materialized. Carton recounted that Olsen had to cancel due to a personal matter involving his brother.
“He called me and said, ‘I can’t come to New York. I’ve got to take care of the situation with my brother.’ We agreed to a rain check. The rain check never happened,” Carton said.
The story highlights Olsen’s early recognition as a media talent, well before he became a familiar face on FOX’s NFL broadcasts. Carton said the potential move to radio showcased Olsen’s versatility and on-air presence. “I knew this guy was going to be great,” he said.
Whether Olsen would have made the cut at WFAN will never be realized. The former NFL tight end has worked for FOX Sports two-time Sports Emmy Award broadcaster, having been with the company since 2021 in a booth analyst role.
A Wayne, New Jersey native, Olsen would have been a solid candidate for a role with WFAN which relies on homegrown attitude, knowledge and personality.
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