Greg Papa’s return to the broadcast booth has been pushed back again, with the longtime 49ers announcer back in the hospital as he deals with advanced heart failure.
Papa, 63, has been at UCSF since Sept. 7.
The San Francisco Standard first reported the hospitalization. After Tuesday’s diagnostic procedure, he released a statement explaining that his genetic heart condition, cardiomyopathy, has gotten much worse following the bone marrow transplant.
“A week after that beautiful night in Novato, I experienced another health setback. My genetic heart condition Cardiomyopathy has greatly worsened due to the bone marrow transplant.
The Advanced Heart Failure team at UCSF performed a diagnostic procedure Tuesday morning for a clearer picture of the condition of the heart. All of your love and support has greatly helped us get past the many health obstacles we have faced.
Together we will get past the next challenge. Love you all and thank you.”
Doctors first identified cardiomyopathy in 2023. Then came leukemia in 2025, with the cancer found in his brain and spinal column.
A March bone marrow transplant from his sister sent the cancer into remission, but the recovery was brutal. Papa spent 78 days at UCSF battling pneumonia, two collapsed lungs, a ventilator and an induced coma.
That’s the backdrop for why this latest setback hits so hard. He had just appeared as a guest at Tim Flannery’s concert in Novato, only to be back under the care of the heart team a week later.
The timing also wipes out the plans that had been lining up for his comeback. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he will not call Sunday’s home game against the Dolphins.
Oncologists had recently cleared him to handle 49ers home play-by-play this season. NBC Sports Bay Area had him set for last week’s Australia opener against the Rams, and KNBR had announced a part-time return five weeks after a shocking layoff, with weekday hours and two 49ers shows.
None of that has happened. Guy Haberman handled the Melbourne win, and Papa’s next shot at the booth will have to wait until UCSF says he’s ready to come home.
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