Terry Bradshaw announced his plan to retire from broadcasting in 2029 (Image: Getty)
FOX Sunday stalwart Howie Long couldn’t hide his admiration for colleague amid the famed Pittsburgh Steelers figure’s plans to quit his TV career. The two sporting titans have been inseparable on the show for an impressive 31 years, having in Bradshaw’s own stomping ground of Louisiana.
With FOX NFL Sunday boasting coverage of the league’s showpiece event 11 times since its 1994 inception, Long and Bradshaw remain the enduring duo from the original lineup. However, the end of an era looms on the horizon as Bradshaw, at the age of 76, conceded the time to retire is on the horizon.
Reflecting on the countless Sunday’s filled with laughter, Long, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in the year 2000, expressed gratitude for the incredible journey alongside the former quarterback. Speaking to , Long said: “I’ve been so fortunate to have worked with Terry for 31 years.
“I’ve laughed from the minute I get to work at 5am until the day ends at 5pm every Sunday for 31 years. This will be our 11th Super Bowl together and it’s still as much fun as it’s ever been. I’m blessed.”
While revealing his countdown until retirement after the Super Bowl in 2029, Bradshaw confided in his wife about his future, saying (via ): “I told my wife before I left the room a while ago, I’m sitting there…
“I said, ‘I’ve got two years left at FOX. I’m 76. Okay, so it’s a young man’s game. I get that’. Everybody wants the new… And so I said, ‘If we can get to the next Super Bowl [after that], I’ll be 80’.
The 76-year-old was on hand to interview Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts (Image: Getty)
“‘That’s… I think that’s time’. 80 years old, that’s pushing it!” Having teamed up with Long since his FOX NFL Sunday debut in 1994, the Raiders icon relayed to New England Patriots great Julian Edelman on how their distinctive differences carved out an unexpectedly strong friendship.
“Terry and I had to figure that out early on [because] we couldn’t be any more less alike,” he reflected, drawing on contrasts from their origins and positions in football to underline their closeness.
“I mean, Boston Catholic [Howie] to Louisiana Baptist [Terry], quarterback to defensive lineman, Steelers to Raiders… We’re just so different. But he’s the brother I never had. We’re as close as one could be.”