Greg Papa Reveals His Next Move After KNBR: Report

BAY AREA, CA — KNBR cut Greg Papa while he was fighting his way back from cancer, but the longtime Bay Area broadcaster isn’t stepping away from the microphone yet. Instead, like many of the athletes he has watched on the field during his career, Papa is plotting a comeback.

NBC Sports Bay Area announced Tuesday that Papa, 63, will make appearances on its 49ers pregame and postgame shows throughout the season, according to SFGATE.

Papa already appears weekly on the "49ers Talk" podcast with Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan and regularly contributes to the streaming show "49ers Now."

He also plans to contribute regularly to KNTV's weekly "Sports Sunday presented by Xfinity," hosted by Dave Feldman, SFGATE reported.

NBC Sports Bay Area said Papa will also make weekly appearances on "49ers Talk" in a segment called "Ask Papa."

"Christian (McCaffrey) won the Comeback Player of the Year last year," Papa said on the podcast, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. "I'm not a player, but I want Comeback Performer of the Year."

Papa's expanded television role comes after KNBR ended his midday show with co-host Greg Silver. The station named John Lund as the solo host of its 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekday time slot.

Papa, the radio voice of the 49ers and a longtime Bay Area broadcaster, has battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia over the past year. He underwent a bone marrow transplant, spent 78 days in the hospital, battled pneumonia and two collapsed lungs, and recently announced he is cancer-free, according to reports.

Papa missed much of the 49ers' 2025 season while undergoing treatment before returning for the regular-season finale.

His recovery continues. Papa still needs regular oxygen and is undergoing specialized pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation, according to reports. Doctors remain uncertain how much lung capacity he will regain.

Papa told SFGATE he has gotten "remarkably better quickly," but he does not yet know whether his lungs can handle a full three-hour football broadcast. His condition has already ruled out calling the 49ers' season-opening game against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.

Still, Papa plans to resume his full duties as the 49ers' radio play-by-play announcer early in the 2026 NFL season, NBC Sports Bay Area reported.

Papa continued co-hosting his KNBR show from a home studio while receiving chemotherapy. A friend also established a fundraising campaign to help Papa's family cover expenses not fully covered by insurance, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.