After more than 20 years as the public-address announcer for the Baltimore Ravens, Fox 45’s Bruce Cunningham is stepping down effective immediately, he announced in a post on Fox’s website.
Last Thursday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers’ was Cunningham’s final time in the booth recapping plays and making public service announcements.
In his post, the Fox 45 sports director and host of Sunday segment “Sports Unlimited” said that reaching the two-decade milestone at the end of last season felt like a finish line, a sensation he later attributed to fatigue.
“But it was indeed a finish line and after announcing the two pre-season games, I realized I was done,” he wrote. “The fire in the belly was gone.”
He added that all the improvements at M&T Bank Stadium made it feel like an appropriate time to step aside.
“There are only thirty-two of these positions in the world, they are precious as diamonds and I have treasured every second, but it’s time for someone else to get a shot.”
There will be a new public-address announcer on Sept. 15 when the Ravens open up their home schedule with a game against the Arizona Cardinals, but a team spokesman said a replacement has not yet been named.
In a statement, the team’s executive vice president for public and community relations, Kevin Byrne, offered appreciation for Cunningham’s 20 years behind the mic.
“We were honored to have him participate in what we believe is the best home-game entertainment in the NFL,” he said. “We thank him for his excellent work.”
Cunningham will still be around on game days, he said, but as a reporter.
He signed off with the last line of the Ravens’ fan credo, echoed by more than 70,000 fans at home games and something he’s repeated more than 200 times: “Don’t be a jerk.”
