PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After nearly five decades as the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, talking fans through some of the Birds’ greatest triumphs and agonies, Merrill Reese is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Now entering his 47th year as the Eagles play-by-play announcer, the 81-year-old Reese is the 2024 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. The award, named for former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, has honored individuals in the broadcast space of the league since 1989.
Past winners include Philly-native Andrea Kremer; the late Jon Facenda, voice of NFL films; Joe Buck and Jim Nantz.
Reese is the 36th honoree in the award’s history.
In announcing Reese as this year’s winner, the Hall of Fame said “for nearly half a century fans tuning into Eagles games, opposing fans, have had the privilege of hearing Merrill’s legendary voice.”
"I am overwhelmed,” Reese said of the honor. “I honestly, when I heard about that I was quite emotional because it was the last thing I was thinking of. It was something I never imagined and here it happened.”
The legendary play-by-play announcer also thanked WIP “and the greatest fans in the NFL for the wonderful support they have shown me for the last 47 years… and hopefully with 47 more to come.”
Reese will be honored during the NFL’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.