Kevin Burkhardt | |
|---|---|
Burkhardt in 2018 | |
| Born | March 2, 1974 1973/1974 (age 48–49) |
| Alma mater | William Paterson University |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Spouse | Rachel |
| Children | Logan, Brook |
Kevin Burkhardt (born 1973/1974)[1] is an American sportscaster. He is currently the lead play-by-play voice for the NFL on Fox, lead studio host for Fox Major League Baseball, and was formerly a reporter with SportsNet New York (SNY), Burkhardt was the field reporter during New York Mets telecasts from 2007 to 2014. He also called select Mets games during both spring training and the regular season during that time. He has been the primary studio host for Major League Baseball (MLB) telecasts on Fox and FS1 since the 2014 season. He also hosts the "Reunion" episodes of the History Channel's Alone. Burkhardt is best known for his part on MLB pre and postgame coverage for the regular season, including the MLB All-Star Game and MLB at Field of Dreams games, and the post-season, including the World Series.[2]
Burkhardt grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey doing play-by-play for Nintendo games in his junior high school days, idolizing Gary Cohen (who was later his partner in the Mets' broadcast booth).[3] He graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1992.[4] A 1997 graduate of William Paterson University, Burkhardt took his degree in broadcasting to radio station WGHT[5] in Northern New Jersey, spending eight years working for the station, covering events including high school football. WGHT radio is known for giving many broadcasters a break.
Burkhardt also worked at Jukebox Radio under the supervision of Joe Nolan, broadcasting New Jersey Jackals minor league games for WJUX,[citation needed] owned by Jerry Turro. Burkhardt worked as a sales associate at Pine Belt Chevrolet in Eatontown, New Jersey, while working as a freelancer early in his career.[2]
From WGHT, Burkhardt got a part-time job working at WFAN, doing freelance work and eventually becoming the station's full-time New York Jets reporter.[3][6][7]
During this time, he was a regular on Out of Bounds for Philadelphia's CN8, did sports reporting for Time Warner Cable, and on sports reports for WCBS 880.[6][7]
Burkhardt joined the Mets broadcast team at the beginning of the 2007 season,[8] replacing Chris Cotter. Burkhardt interviewed for the SNY job but never thought he would be hired.[3] On SNY he appeared on shows such as Mets Hot Stove, Mets Pre-Game Live, Mets Post-Game Live, and Mets Year in Review. Burkhardt left SNY at the end of the 2014 season for a full-time job at Fox.
Burkhardt was also the play-by-play voice for Dallas Cowboys games on Compass Media Networks from the inauguration of its America's Team Radio Network in 2011 until 2013, when he joined the NFL on Fox and was replaced by Kevin Ray.[9] He teamed with Danny White on the broadcasts. He also called college football games for the network.[10]
In 2013, Burkhardt began calling games for NFL on Fox, teaming with John Lynch and Erin Andrews as the network's #4 announcer team. This crew also called the divisional playoff game between the Saints and Seahawks on January 11, 2014.[11] He also did fill-in work for Major League Baseball on Fox in 2012 and 2013, and in 2014 was named as pre-game host for MLB coverage on Fox and Fox Sports 1.[2] On April 24, 2014 it was reported that Burkhardt had agreed to a three-year contract with Fox beginning in 2015.[12] He also joined the Fox College Hoops team.[13]
After Joe Buck left Fox for ESPN in 2022, Burkhardt was promoted to the #1 NFL on Fox broadcast team alongside Greg Olsen as color commentator. Burkhardt is expected to be the television play-by-play announcer for Super Bowl LVII.[14]
Burkhardt has hosted the "Reunion" episodes for the History Channel's Alone television show.
Burkhardt resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Rachel, and son, Logan, daughter, Brook. The family previously lived in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.[6]
