Merrill Alan Reese (born September 2, 1942) is an American sports radio announcer best known for his role as the play-by-play radio announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles on SportsRadio 94.1 WIP-FM. He has been the voice of the Eagles since 1977. He is the 2024 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.
Merrill Reese | |
|---|---|
 Reese in August 2008 at Eagles Training Camp | |
| Born | Merrill Alan Reese September 2, 1942 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team | Philadelphia Eagles (1977–present) |
| Genre | Play-by-Play |
| Sport | Football |
Early years
editReese grew up in Overbrook Park, Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School. He is Jewish.
Reese is a graduate of Temple University, earning a bachelor's degree in communications and broadcasting. While in college, he learned his craft by doing play-by-play over the college's radio station, WRTI FM. At WRTI, Reese also had a music show every Wednesday afternoon where he spun 45-rpm records from his own personal collection.
After college, he served as a public affairs officer in the United States Navy and became a lieutenant. He then set out to obtain his first paid broadcasting gig auditioning at WCOJ in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and WPAZ in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Radio career
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Reese eventually landed a job in Philadelphia as a newscaster and sportscaster at WHAT and its FM companion, WWDB-FM. After a few years he moved on to WIP as a backup for that station's Sports Director, Charlie Swift, who did drive-time sportscasts and Philadelphia Eagles play-by-play. While Swift was vacationing, Reese began doing the pre-game and post-game shows for the Eagles on WIP and later was assigned to do color commentary during the games. Hours after Swift died from suicide on December 7, 1977,[1] Reese was immediately promoted to Eagles play-by-play voice. His debut in that capacity was a 17–14 home victory over the New York Giants four days later on December 11.[2][3] Herb Adderley took over the color commentary for the remainder of the season.
He is the longest-serving current play-by-play announcer in the NFL. Reese's current broadcast partner is former Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick, who joined Reese in the booth in 1998. Aside from Swift and Adderley, Reese has previously been joined in the booth by Jim Barniak (1978–82), Bill Bergey (1982–83, and who also filled in when Quick had knee surgery during the 2004 preseason), and Stan Walters (1984–97).
In addition to his play-by-play radio coverage of the Eagles, Reese hosts The WIP Coach's Show the day after Eagles games with the Eagles head coach, Eagles players and other guests.
Reese was inducted to the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2016. He was announced on June 13, 2024, as a Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee upon receiving the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.[4]
On Sunday, February 4, 2018, Reese called Super Bowl LII, as the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41–33 for their first Super Bowl title. With 38 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, he called the Eagles' 4th and Goal play which would later be known as the "Philly Special" thus:
“Foles in the gun. Clement to his right. Now lines up behind Foles. Foles moves to the right and it goes directly to Clement and Clement reverses it and it goes into the end zone...AND IT'S A TOUCHDOWN BY NICK FOLES!"
Then, in the 4th quarter, Reese called the game's final play:
"Batted around...and incomplete! And the game is over! The game is over! The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions. Eagles fans everywhere, this is for you. Let the celebration begin!”
Personal life
editReese is co-owner of 1490 WBCB (AM) in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a Bucks County suburb north of Philadelphia.
Reese's autobiography, It's Gooooood!, was published in 1998. The title is a reference is to his distinctive and well recognized "field goal" call, which is usually delivered excitedly and at a high pitch that contrasts starkly with his usual baritone broadcasting voice.
His wife Cynthia was a former sixth grade science teacher at Keith Valley Middle School in Horsham, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. His son Nolan has been an assistant editor of such films as Avatar, Iron Man 2 & The Muppets. His daughter Ida is a graphic designer.
Reese's mother was also a teacher at Robert E. Lamberton School in Overbrook Park, Philadelphia, where the Reeses lived in the 1960s. Her love of musical theater was passed onto many of her students.
In 2022, Reese provided vocals on the Christmas album A Philly Special Christmas.
References
edit- ^ "Charlie Swift, 43, Announcer For Eagles, Commits Suicide," The Associated Press, Wednesday, December 7, 1977.
- ^ Tornoe, Rob. "Merrill Reese, the voice of the Eagles for 40 years, reveals his 10 favorite calls," philly.com, September 11, 2016.
- ^ Philadelphia Eagles 17, New York Giants 14; Sunday, December 11, 1977 – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Eagles annnouncer [sic] Merrill Reese to receive 2024 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award," Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.