ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The longtime "Voice of the Buffalo Bills" John Murphy is stepping away from his position ahead of the 2024 season.
The team shared the news online, calling Murphy an ambassador for "both Bills football and the city of Buffalo."
An ambassador for both Bills football and the city of Buffalo.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 9, 2024
After more than three decades, John Murphy will be stepping away from play-by-play duties but leaving the door open to be involved in the game day broadcast: https://t.co/vBQkVb1Zek pic.twitter.com/EjZ6t2fXDV
Murphy was the team's radio broadcaster for the last 35 years, including 16 years as a color analyst and 19 years as the play-by-play broadcaster. He was out of the broadcast booth last season after suffering a stroke in January of last year.
He spoke with 7 News Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley about his recovery process earlier this year, saying he's "getting better every day."
WATCH: 'Hopefully, I’ll be back': John Murphy, voice of the Buffalo Bills, shares his recovery story
Murphy sat down with 7 News' Jeff Russo on Thursday and said his recovery is going well and he shared his thoughts as he hangs up the headset.
"I feel great, I've never felt better, I've never been healthier to tell you the truth, what bothers me — I just can't talk," said Murphy.
According to Murphy, it's the continued challenges with his speech that forced him to make the difficult decision to step away from the broadcast booth.
"It just occurred to me in March that I wasn't getting better as quickly as I thought I would and it was probably time to pull the plug," said Murphy. "I really miss, and I'm gonna miss, the Sunday — the game day Sunday."
Russo also spoke with 7 Sports contributor Howard Simon, he shared his thoughts on Murphy's legacy.
"When I first started here in 1989 I listened to Murph, I was a fan," said Simon. "That is the guy I learned from and I thought 'Man, if I could be John Murphy someday in this market, how awesome would that be?' He is my broadcast role model and I think he is a definitive voice,
like legendary voice, of Buffalo sports for me and anybody who grew up here."
Buffalo Bills legend Steve Tasker also shared his
"Having a voice like Murph who you recognize so readily both on camera in his television work and also on the radio, there's just a level of comfort there that gives people a real sense of belonging," said Tasker.
Murphy said he is blown away by the way the fans and the community have reacted to his announcement.
"I'm blown away, I thank people for their thoughts and their wishes," said Murphy. "It means a lot, quite frankly I didn't anticipate this kind of reaction."
Murphy said he is still open to being involved in the game day broadcasts in a different capacity and hopes to be fully healthy by the end of the year.
Other than being the "Voice of the Bills," Murphy is a member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He also earned the Dick Gallagher Legacy Award from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 for his role in the Buffalo community and showcasing local amateur sports during his broadcasting career.
