WGN Radio sportscaster Dave Eanet retires; Andy Masur to replace him

Eanet has been with station since 1996

WGN Radio sportscaster anchor Dave Eanet announced his retirement this morning, but isn’t entirely going away, as he will continue to do play-by-play for Northwestern football and men’s basketball for the station, and he will continue as a fill-in sports anchor for WGN-TV newscasts and late-night sports wrap-up show GN Sports. WGN-TV and WGN Radio are owned by Nexstar Media Group.

“Can’t believe it’s been 41 years since I first set foot in the WGN studios, Eanet said. As I close this chapter of my career, the word that comes to mind is ‘grateful.’ I’m so thankful to the entire WGN family for their friendship and support over the years. It’s not just the names you know, but the entire crew on and off the air. I’m forever indebted to the managers, engineers, producers, newspeople, sales team, and all the others who have made WGN such a special place to work.”

“Most of all“, he continued, “I’m thankful to the listeners who have a special relationship with this station. I will miss the day-to-day connection, but so glad I’ll continue calling Wildcat football and basketball. After calling the last game in the old Ryan Field, I look forward to the first game in the new Ryan Field next year!”

Eanet had been doing sports on Bob Sirott’s morning show. Eanet started at WGN in 1984 as morning sports anchor on Wally Phillips’ show and returned to WGN Radio in 1996 after an eight-year hiatus. 

“Dave Eanet has been a cherished voice on WGN Radio for nearly three consecutive decades”, said WGN Radio VP/GM Mary Sandberg Boyle. “From his weekday morning sportscasts to his superior play-by-play for Northwestern and as a fill-in sports anchor on WGN-TV, his remarkable work has been a mainstay for our audiences every day. He’s had a rigorous schedule that few could have balanced as well as Dave. I have immense respect for Dave and admire his decision to scale back his morning show broadcast responsibilities. It’s his kindness as a broadcaster and coworker that really stand out.”

Eanet is being succeeded as of August 28 by Andy Masur, a north suburban Glenview native who had been serving as weekend and fill-in sports anchor on both WGN Radio and WGN-TV. Masur served as the co-host of WGN’s Chicago Bears post-game shows with Dan Hampton and Ed Bravodrich. Masur was part of WGN Radio’s Cubs telecasts from 1999 to 2006, before returning to the station in 2014, where he did Chicago White Sox play-by-play in 2019 and 2020 when they had the rights. Masur also has provided play-by-play for the San Diego Padres and University of Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball. 

“I am thrilled to share that our own Andy Masur will assume morning show sports duties going forward”, Sandberg said. “Andy is a talented broadcaster who has built a rapport with the WGN Radio audience as a regular fill-in for Dave and as our weekend sports anchor. We are lucky to have him.”

“I am truly honored to be taking the baton from Dave Eanet, who has been such a fixture here at WGN”, Masur added. “I like to think he prepared me for this day, and I’m looking forward to carrying on the great tradition of sports on 720 WGN.”

Masur will continue to appear on GN Sports when needed and on pre and post-game shows during Bears season.