ESPN radio broadcaster Dan Davis dies
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The gist
ESPN Radio founding member Dan "The Duke" Davis, who retired in 2011, has died at 84.
Colleagues call him the best update man sports radio has known.
Background
Dan Davis, known as "The Duke," was a founding member of ESPN Radio when the network launched in January 1992, serving as a host and update reporter and later as a SportsCenter update reporter until his 2011 retirement. Before ESPN, he called Doug Flutie's game-winning Hail Mary pass for Boston College against Miami in 1984 on WRKO/ABC Radio, a call cited among his most famous. ESPN announced his death, and tributes came from colleagues and Boston College Football.
How it unfolded
- 1962Dan "The Duke" Davis began his broadcasting career at WEMJ in Laconia, New Hampshire.
- 1984Davis called Doug Flutie's game-winning Hail Mary pass for Boston College against Miami, which BC won 47-45, for WRKO/ABC Radio.
- Jan 1992Davis joined ESPN Radio at its launch as a host and update reporter.
- 1999Davis became an ESPN Radio SportsCenter update reporter, a role he held until 2011.
- Dec 23, 2011Davis retired from his regular ESPN Radio role after nearly two decades on air.
- Oct 21, 2026ESPN announced Davis died; no cause of death was shared. Boston College Football and The Golics posted tributes on X.
- Oct 23, 2026PennLive and oregonlive reported ESPN confirmed Davis' death at 84.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- ESPN Public Relations remembered Davis as an ESPN Radio founding member who served as a host and update reporter starting in January 1992.
- Colleagues
- Longtime broadcaster Mike Tirico called Davis "the best update man sports radio has ever known" and said no one will replace "The Duke."
- Colleagues
- ESPN host Scott Van Pelt called Davis everything you could ask a co-worker to be and said calling him a friend was more meaningful than working together.
- Party
- Boston College Football said Davis' voice became part of the program's history, from the 1984 Hail Mary call to dozens of BC Football broadcasts.
Still unverified
ESPN's announcement did not share a cause of death. Sources differ on the date of death: some report October 21st, while ESPN's post says he "passed away Wednesday." Sources also differ on his age: most report 84, while one headline says 86.