Greg Papa Returns to 49ers Radio Booth for Final Two Home Games Amid Ongoing Health Battle
There are voices in sports that become part of the fabric of a franchise. For the San Francisco 49ers, Greg Papa is one of those voices-steady, passionate, and unmistakably tied to the rhythm of fall Sundays at Levi’s Stadium. And now, after months away from the mic while battling serious health issues, Papa is officially returning to the booth for the final two home games of the regular season.
The announcement came during Wednesday’s episode of Papa & Lund on KNBR-680, where Papa appeared on the KNBR YouTube channel, clean-shaven and smiling-an image that carried more weight than words could convey. The 63-year-old will be back on the call for the 49ers’ Sunday night matchup against the Chicago Bears on December 28, and again for the regular-season finale on January 4 against the Seattle Seahawks.
The news became official during the live broadcast when Bob Sargent, the 49ers’ director of broadcasting, phoned in to “activate” Papa for duty-an emotional moment for fans and colleagues alike.
Papa’s return isn’t just a feel-good story-it’s a testament to resilience. After revealing earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with a serious illness, Papa has been on a long and grueling road to recovery. Speaking candidly on air, he shared that the initial prognosis was sobering: no travel for a year, no driving, and a life expectancy that was suddenly uncertain.
“I haven’t gotten the green light to travel,” Papa said. “I think maybe we’ll stay home for the playoffs. We’ll see.”
For now, the focus is on Levi’s Stadium, and that’s more than enough.
Behind the scenes, this comeback has been months in the making. KNBR program director Bob Hohler acknowledged that since Papa’s diagnosis, the priority has always been his health.
“This has been something that has been talked about for four months now,” Hohler said on air. “When we first found out about Pop’s diagnosis, the first thing was to do whatever we can to get him healthy.
That’s still ongoing.”
Papa is currently in remission, but the journey is far from over. He’s awaiting a bone marrow transplant from his sister Judy, though a date has not yet been set.
The transplant is a critical step in preventing a relapse. He’s also managing a pre-existing heart condition that complicated his treatment, forcing him to pause medication during chemotherapy.
“It was just a series of things that I was forced to miss for a long, long time,” Papa said. “But obviously my health and getting better was way more important.
We’re not running victory formation yet. I’m far from that.”
Still, there are signs of progress. Papa shared that his heart numbers are improving, and he hasn’t undergone chemotherapy via his PICC line since October 13. That’s a meaningful milestone.
“I had an echocardiogram yesterday. The numbers are better. I’m not good enough where I can get the transplant, but they are going in the right direction, so hopefully that’ll be coming soon,” he said.
Papa appeared on air wearing a UCSF hat, a nod to the San Francisco hospital where he’s received treatment and spent 23 days after his diagnosis, battling a dangerously low white blood cell count. At one point, he couldn’t even shave due to the risk of infection-but he made an exception for this occasion, returning clean-shaven to mark his on-air comeback.
For 49ers fans, hearing Papa’s voice back in the booth is more than just a broadcast-it’s a return to something familiar, something grounding. In a season where the Niners are making noise on the field, having Papa back on the call brings a sense of wholeness to the experience.
And while he’s not quite ready to call this a victory lap, there’s no denying that Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium will be special. Greg Papa is back. And that’s a win worth celebrating.