Diehard New York Jets fan and WFAN afternoon drive host Joe Benigno will officially retire from the airwaves Wednesday afternoon.
Bro … bro, bro. The pain.
Long-time WFAN radio host and diehard New York Jets fan Joe Benigno will call it a career Wednesday afternoon, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. WFAN previewed that there would be an announcement at 5 p.m. ET on the afternoon’s drive-time radio show “Joe and Evan.”
Benigno, 67, a Garfield, NJ native, started his radio career as a caller. “Joe from Saddle River” continuously hit the airwaves in the early 1990s as Benigno worked in sales.
After winning a WFAN-operated contest, he was given a shot to impress live on-air in 1995. He first had an opportunity overnight prior to a midday career that spanned many years.
He and Evan Roberts started together in the midday in 2007, a show that lasted in that timeslot until Mike Francesa’s most recent (and most likely final) retirement. The two shifted to afternoon drive where they found themselves with extremely low ratings compared to “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio.
Benigno is beloved by a great portion of Jets fandom. His classic Jets and Mets rants would serve as the medicine needed in fan therapy every Monday.
While his actual football knowledge can be challenged, fans related to the man thanks to his passion and personality.
Benigno’s exit paves the way for Craig Carton’s return. Carton, the former radio partner of Boomer Esiason on WFAN’s morning show, reportedly signed with WFAN upon his release from prison.
On Wednesday afternoon, Joe Benigno’s retirement will become official.
“Bro, the pain.”
