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Legendary Bucs' play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff set to retire

Bryan Glazer, Gene Deckerhoff
'Fire them Cannons': Gene Deckerhoff reflects on being iconic voice of the Bucs
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TAMPA, Fla. — "Touchdown Tampa Bay" will sound different next season, as the Bucs' play-by-play announcer, Gene Deckerhoff, has announced his retirement.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said Deckerhoff informed the Bucs he will retire at the end of the 2025 NFL season.

Deckerhoff has been the voice of the Buccaneers for 37 years, the third-longest play-by-play tenure among NFL clubs (Eagles’ Merrill Reese and Cowboys' Brad Sham are the longest).

He is known for the iconic phrase “Fire them Cannons!” whenever the Bucs score. Tampa Bay 28 anchor Paul Lagrone interviewed Deckerhoff in 2025 and reflected on his career.

Watch interview with Gene Deckerhoff

'Fire them cannons': Gene Deckerhoff reflects on being iconic voice of the Bucs

“Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” said Deckerhoff.

Alongside Buccaneers games, Deckerhoff was the voice of USF football and began his career in 1971, doing play-by-play for high school football games in Bradenton.

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