“Fire the cannons!” Gene Deckerhoff is returning for another season as the radio voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Deckherhoff, who has held that role since 1989, will turn 80 in May, but he hasn’t lost his passion for the sport. His iconic calls such as “Touchdown, Tampa Bay!” and the aforementioned “Fire the cannons!” after Bucs TDs at home have thrilled several generations of fans.
Gene Deckerhoff is the voice of my childhood as a Bucs fan. Dad and I listening to the radio in his truck while we shot hoops together is a memory of mine that I’ll hold sacred. https://t.co/mHdbtjY7wq
— Jordan (@hereisjordann) December 16, 2024
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman confirmed Deckerhoff’s return.
Cool news, and not a surprise at all: the great Gene Deckerhoff says he will be back on the call for Bucs radio for the team’s 50th season — his 37th — in 2025.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 25, 2025
If Deckerhoff’s voice sounds vaguely familiar, he served as the longtime PA announcer on EA Sports’ Madden NFL games.
Bucs fans are pleased to have Deckerhoff back for another year.
Now this is the biggest news of the offseason for the #Bucs. Gene Deckerhoff is just different.
Real ones remember when the NFL had those absurd blackout rules where you couldn’t watch your own team’s home games at times.
Gene’s voice was all we had. https://t.co/GchpnKyMhx
— Nick Geddes (@NickGeddesNews) January 25, 2025
Growing up as a FSU and Bucs fan, Gene is the voice of my football life.
Glad he’s back, and he can stay as long as he wants to!
— Michael A. Hall (@mahall85) January 25, 2025
I cannot emphasize enough how happy this makes me!
— Sarah (@Mamaruns) January 25, 2025
Deckerhoff also served as the radio voice of Florida State football from 1979 through 2022. After his retirement from that post, many wondered if he might opt to step away from his Buccaneers role sometime soon. That won’t be the case in 2025.