NFL fans in uproar as 'Around the NFL' podcast receives unceremonious end after 11 years: "Huge f**king mistake"

For a generation of football fans from all over the world, 'Around the NFL' was their choice of medium to keep abreast of the latest developments in the sport. Whether it was listening to the co-hosts or following them on Twitter, now known as X, it was an authoritative, yet fun, source to follow the league.

Now, they are no more. The NFL has decided to cancel the podcast. After a break of six weeks, 'Around the NFL' co-host Gregg Rosenthal revealed and lamented on X,

"We started the Around the NFL Podcast 11 years and over 1,600 episodes ago. We didn’t take a single break in all the years since, which is part of what made the last six weeks so heartbreaking. I never expected our last show on May 23 to be our *last show,* but here we are."

The announcement was immediately met by vociferous pushback from many NFL fans. They took to the social media platform disagreeing with that decision. Here are some of the responses.

Tributes continued to pour in, with many asking what the co-hosts are planning for the future and others promising to stick by them. Here are some more posts expressing these sentiments.

"Can't wait for the band to get back together one day soon. I'll heed the call wherever and whenever... The future is bright, gentlemen."

"The world the heroes built together impacted so many, including a young writer simply aching to learn more about a sport she loved. They opened the door wide and kept it that way. My favorite show, forever, and these three always have my support."

"The Around the NFL podcast has been a mainstay in my life for many years. The camaraderie, the running jokes, the love of the game, the laughs. I can’t imagine my podcast queue without it. Whatever is in your plans, I’ll be there to listen."

'Around the NFL' podcast co-host reveals future steps

In addition to the post on X, Gregg Rosenthal wrote a longer piece on Instagram and revealed the thrill of hosting the show. He reminisced about the time they even filmed on Super Bowl Sunday despite losing their co-host Chris Wesseling to cancer a couple of days before. He wrote,

"Taping the show together was a constant thrill as it changed our lives and our lives changed around it. We taped before games and after games, in Culver City and Inglewood. We taped on stage in London and from home. We taped two days after Wess died, on Super Bowl Sunday."

He paid tribute to his 'Around the NFL' co-hosts and said that they are forever bonded. Rosenthal added,

"I’m going to miss a lot, especially the magic that happened when we hit record. Dan is a brilliant host who made the show into what it was, creating an entire alternate world for us to play in. Just sitting next to Marc made me feel more alive. Wess always said there is no one on Earth like Marc and anyone lucky enough to know him knows that’s true. We are all forever bonded."

In his final paragraph, Gregg Rosenthal asked that their fans continue their support as they take their next takes and also revealed that he will be staying on with the NFL. He concluded,

"I am also so grateful to the countless people who helped us along the way, especially the listeners. I can’t thank you all enough for letting us become part of your lives and sticking with us through everything. I hope that support continues for all of us in our next steps. I will be staying at the NFL, but for now I just wanted to appreciate everyone that helped us on this incredible journey before starting another one. Heed the call."

Ending with their iconic "Heed the Call", Gregg Rosenthal pulled the curtain around the 'Around the NFL' podcast for one last time.