Murphy officially stepping down

[YardRat]

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/lo...by-play-duties

John Murphy, the longtime play-by-play 'Voice of the Buffalo Bills', announced he is stepping away from his position ahead of the 2024 season.

Murphy spent the last 35 years on the radio broadcast for the Bills, including 16 years as a color analyst (1984-1989 & 1994-2003) and the last 19 years as the play-by-play announcer (2004-2022). The Lockport, NY native is still leaving the door open to be involved in the game day broadcast in a different capacity.

[Ingtar33]

never liked him, never understood why the bills hired him as either color or play by play.

still it's interesting. any word on who is replacing him?

[YardRat]

Chris Brown filled in for him last season after the stroke, I assume he'll stay in the position.

[kgun12]

never liked him, never understood why the bills hired him as either color or play by play.

still it's interesting. any word on who is replacing him?

I agree, I feel bad as to the reason for him not coming back but I never liked him as the color or play by play guy. They say it’s hard to come in after a legend like Van, but Murphy never came close!

BTW, I hope they don’t bring Tasker back, he was horrible!

[Woodman]

Best of health John.

[notacon]

So sad.

I have not listened to the radio broadcast very much for years. I grew up with Van Miller since I listed to him for every home game when blackout rule was in force.

A few times (over 5-6 years ago) when I was on to road working on Sundays I would use the NFL+ feature of live radio broadcast. Murph was good, but not Van Miller. That man was an icon!!!

This year I could not watch the New Years Eve game vs NE, and instead of waiting until the game was over to watch it on NFL+, I used the live radio feature.

Chris Brown was terrible. Very hard to listen to. The timbre of his voice was grating to me, besides his inept descriptions.

Here' hoping that Murph's health improves.

[jamze132]

never liked him, never understood why the bills hired him as either color or play by play.

still it's interesting. any word on who is replacing him?

Seriously?

[Historian]

Murph was okay....wish him well.

I grew up listening to Al Meltzer, Rick Azar and Ed Rutkowski.

Years later, while working in Philly, I met Meltzer one evening at a work function....told him I grew up listening to him call Bills games in the 70's.

His eyes lit up. He told me he and his wife loved Buffalo, the people, the food, everything.....except the weather. just couldn't take the cold.

So he waves his wife over. "Honey, this is Dave....he's from Buffalo!'

She says..."Oh we loved Buffalo. the people, the fans, the food, all of it. We just couldn't take the cold, so we moved back to Philly"



Nice people.

[Oaf]

I too am sad this is the reason, but I never caught a liking for his announcing. I'm too young for Van Miller's time, but absolutely love his voice on the highlights I've seen.

[Gibby 2.0]

Van Miller he was not. He was okay, but not iconic. Still damn, not being able to do something you love (and broadcasting Bills games had to be dream job for him) because of a damned stroke. Strokes are horrible things. Mom had one a few years back and they are ****ing life altering. Mom recovered and I hope Murph did because strokes are awful. So get well Murph and hope you have a great remaining few decades.

[Turf]

Brownie is probably one the best play by play guys I've ever heard. Fits perfect, he can keep the job.

[Ingtar33]

Brownie is probably one the best play by play guys I've ever heard. Fits perfect, he can keep the job.

I remember being in buffalo during the 90's back during my first marriage listening to i think it was "chris brown" do play by play for the UB Bulls... he was not good.

But that was almost 30 years ago. and my memory might be very very wrong on that. for some reason though when i hear chris brown i associate him with the UB Bulls play by play guy. Maybe he did play by play for the Bulls years later or something and i'm forgetting who i heard. but for some reason i think it was chris brown in the 90s...

now this is going to bother me. anyone know if he did play by play for the UB Bulls in the 90s? or maybe the Bisons? or purhaps the Bandits? I'm pretty sure it was the UB Bulls... but it might have been some other sport i guess.

[Turf]

I remember being in buffalo during the 90's back during my first marriage listening to i think it was "chris brown" do play by play for the UB Bulls... he was not good.

But that was almost 30 years ago. and my memory might be very very wrong on that. for some reason though when i hear chris brown i associate him with the UB Bulls play by play guy. Maybe he did play by play for the Bulls years later or something and i'm forgetting who i heard. but for some reason i think it was chris brown in the 90s...

now this is going to bother me. anyone know if he did play by play for the UB Bulls in the 90s? or maybe the Bisons? or purhaps the Bandits? I'm pretty sure it was the UB Bulls... but it might have been some other sport i guess.

I think his excitement into the way he narrates the plays is fantastic, very likeable. No idea about UB, we all evolve in some ways.

[notacon]

Murph was okay....wish him well.

I grew up listening to Al Meltzer, Rick Azar and Ed Rutkowski.

Years later, while working in Philly, I met Meltzer one evening at a work function....told him I grew up listening to him call Bills games in the 70's.

His eyes lit up. He told me he and his wife loved Buffalo, the people, the food, everything.....except the weather. just couldn't take the cold.

So he waves his wife over. "Honey, this is Dave....he's from Buffalo!'

She says..."Oh we loved Buffalo. the people, the fans, the food, all of it. We just couldn't take the cold, so we moved back to Philly"



Nice people.

After Van Miller retired, he was on a (old farts) travel group (I can't remember where...China or New Zealand I think) that my dad was on. These trips went on for at least two to three weeks as 25 to 30 people traveled together on a guided tour.

He said that Van was the nicest man, not at all full of himself and a wonderful group travel companion. The trip used a bus to get from place to place within the country they were visiting, and my dad took video of one time that Van got up in the front of the bus, and put on his professional Bills voice and persona and called the trip like he was recapping a game, mentioning fellow travelers by name and recounting the great stuff they did together.

It was hilarious. I have not seen it for years since it was done in the 90's. After my dad passed in 2008 I got hold of all his video originals. My intention is to digitize them all and I'm looking forward to finding that snippet.

[DetoxTent]

never liked him, never understood why the bills hired him as either color or play by play.

Never liked him either. Could never hold a candle to Van Miller, but even to an average color commentator Murphy was bad.

[DetoxTent]

After Van Miller retired, he was on a (old farts) travel group (I can't remember where...China or New Zealand I think) that my dad was on. These trips went on for at least two to three weeks as 25 to 30 people traveled together on a guided tour.

He said that Van was the nicest man, not at all full of himself and a wonderful group travel companion. The trip used a bus to get from place to place within the country they were visiting, and my dad took video of one time that Van got up in the front of the bus, and put on his professional Bills voice and persona and called the trip like he was recapping a game, mentioning fellow travelers by name and recounting the great stuff they did together.

It was hilarious. I have not seen it for years since it was done in the 90's. After my dad passed in 2008 I got hold of all his video originals. My intention is to digitize them all and I'm looking forward to finding that snippet.

My father is buried a in the same mausoleum as Miller.

[notacon]

My father is buried a in the same mausoleum as Miller.

I'm not sure how to react to this. It's a little creepy.

[T&C]

Van Miller he was not. He was okay, but not iconic. Still damn, not being able to do something you love (and broadcasting Bills games had to be dream job for him) because of a damned stroke. Strokes are horrible things. Mom had one a few years back and they are ****ing life altering. Mom recovered and I hope Murph did because strokes are awful. So get well Murph and hope you have a great remaining few decades.

I haven't listened to a Bills game on radio in probably 20 years but I've heard plenty of Murph on replays, shows, etc... yeah, he really enjoyed calling the games. No one will ever be a RJ, Van Miller, Vin Skully... people speak differently now than they did when these guys were in their booth, hard to explain that really other than, listen to even a news cast from the early 60's to one now... two different worlds. Glad your mom recovered and I hope the same for Murph.

[Woodman]

I enjoyed Marv as well .... thought damn why not hire him as a HC.

Sometimes you just know.

But by far the best ever was Van Miller without a doubt.