Mike Francesa is opening up about the past — and making clear that while Mike and the Mad Dog is no longer on the air, his relationship with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo remains very much alive.
On the latest episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast, the former WFAN afternoon host reflected on whether he misses the groundbreaking show that helped define sports talk radio for two decades. Francesa admitted that there are moments when he looks back fondly on the run he shared with Russo, pointing to the longevity and intensity of a partnership that spanned 20 years in afternoon drive in New York.
“Yeah, I miss ‘Mike and The Mad Dog’ sometimes,” Francesa said. “It was fun. We had a lot of crazy days and had our fights. We had a lot of good times together. Remember we were together for 20 years. We weren’t together for a week, for two weeks. Some people do shows now for three or four years, and talk about how they have a legacy. Hey, we were together for 20 years.”
The duo launched their partnership at WFAN over three decades ago and quickly became a defining force in the format. Their mix of deep sports knowledge, combative exchanges and unmistakable chemistry turned afternoons into must-listen radio, influencing an entire generation of programmers and hosts. Although the show ended when Russo departed in 2008, its impact continues to be cited as a blueprint for successful sports talk duos.
Just as notable as Francesa’s nostalgia was his description of his current relationship with Russo, which runs counter to the long-held perception that the two have little contact.
“Dog and I do stay in touch,” Francesa said. “We try to get a golf game together now and again when we can. We stay in touch about life, stuff like the kids,” said Francesa.
According to Francesa, their conversations now center more on family, personal updates and occasional professional advice rather than daily sports arguments. He described a dynamic in which each might run an idea past the other, seek input or simply catch up, emphasizing that they “get along very well.”
“He might run something past me, I might run something past him. We might talk about something, a different thing. You might call about a certain thing. I’m thinking of doing this. What do you think about this? What do you think about that? We talk. We get along very well,” said Francesa.
For fans who followed every heated exchange on WFAN, the revelation offers perspective. On-air tension does not always lead to lasting personal conflict. Instead, Mike Francesa’s comments suggest something different. He described two longtime partners who remain in contact. Though their careers diverged, their communication has endured years after the split.
While Mike and the Mad Dog lives on as a touchstone in sports radio history, Francesa’s remarks suggest the story between its two principal voices did not end when the show did.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
