Craig Carton Is Making a Comeback — And It’s Shaking Up WFAN’s Lineup
After months of speculation, it’s official: veteran broadcaster Craig Carton is returning to WFAN’s afternoon slot as part of a major shake-up to the New York sports radio station’s lineup. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that Carton will rejoin Audacy Sports 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM this January, marking yet another dramatic chapter in one of sports radio’s most turbulent careers.
Carton, who has been hosting the weekly show Hello My Name Is Craig — a deeply personal program about gambling addiction — since stepping away from his daily afternoon duties in June 2023, is no stranger to reinvention. His brief stint on FS1’s morning show may have fizzled out, but his presence on WFAN has always been magnetic, for better or worse.
Most listeners remember Carton from his long-running partnership with Boomer Esiason, which began in 2007 and dominated New York’s morning sports talk scene for a decade. That all came crashing down in September 2017, when the FBI arrested Carton on federal charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. He would go on to serve twelve months of a 36- to 42-month prison sentence before returning triumphantly to WFAN in 2020 — this time alongside Evan Roberts in the afternoon slot.
Before his initial WFAN run, Carton earned his stripes behind microphones across the country — from Trenton’s “New Jersey 101.5” and WGR Buffalo to KKFN Denver, WIP Philadelphia, and WNEW-FM New York. His unmistakable style — part brash humor, part unfiltered honesty — often divided audiences, but it always commanded attention.
According to Marchand’s latest report, Carton’s return will coincide with several lineup changes. Evan Roberts and current co-host Tiki Barber are set to shift to mid-days, replacing Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata. As for Carton’s new partner, insiders suggest overnight host Chris McMonigle is the top contender for the job. Meanwhile, the station still faces a vacancy in the nightly slot after Keith McPherson’s recent exit — meaning the station’s transformation is far from over.
Lance Venta of RadioInsight, who first broke many of Carton’s career updates over the years, notes that WFAN’s revamp reflects the ever-evolving balance between personality-driven content and programming stability. Some see the station’s trust in Carton as redemption; others view it as a risk given his past controversies.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Can a figure who’s been both celebrated and condemned truly redefine his legacy — again? Or does this move highlight how the line between scandal and second chances is blurrier than ever in sports media?
What do you think — is WFAN’s gamble on Craig Carton a smart comeback move, or a step backward? Share your thoughts below — this one’s bound to stir debate.
