The Hall of Fame QB is back.
After taking a leave last year due to family circumstances, Chargers legend Dan Fouts is returning to the booth as part of the Bolts' 2019 preseason television broadcast team.
"This is really a good team and it's exciting to be a part of it," Fouts said. "I'm going to be here for the CBS game (against the Saints on Aug. 18,) so I'll get to see all four Chargers preseason games. I'm really excited about the season."
Fouts will provide color commentary alongside Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson for the Chargers' preseason telecasts. The return of Fouts joining LT not only means the Bolts will boast a preseason broadcast team with a Hall of Fame pedigree, but both men are also only two of four Chargers to have their numbers retired by the organization.
The pair will be joined by Spero Dedes who enters his fifth season as the play-by-play voice for the Chargers' preseason games, and Hayley Elwood, who returns to the sideline for the second consecutive year.
"It's so good to have Dan back," Dedes said. "I've always said, he's the perfect mix in terms of what you want from your analyst. He knows the players, he can talk about the third- and fourth-string guy, which is critical in the preseason. But, he has that sense of humor that sets him apart from a lot of analysts in the business. He's 'Mr. Charger.' To have two Hall of Famers from two different generations working with me in the booth is pretty surreal."
Getting to work alongside a fellow Hall of Famer in Fouts excites Tomlinson. Afterall, calling games for the team they used to play for is a unique and special experience both men cherish and who better to have in the booth than them?
"I'm so excited to work with my fellow Hall of Famer, Dan Fouts, in the booth" Tomlinson mentioned. "Working alongside someone with such a vast repertoire and knowledge will be a great experience for me."
"I have a lot of admiration for LT as a player and now as he breaks into broadcasting," Fouts added. "It'll be good. Preseason is different, there's more time to tell stories and have a conversation so we'll see which young man will stand out and make the team."
After going 12-4 and making it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2018, there are exciting things on the horizon for the Chargers in 2019 and it all starts in the preseason.
Locally in Orange County and Los Angeles, KABC-TV (ABC7) is your home for Chargers preseason football for the following games:
Week 1 – Aug. 8 at Arizona (7:00 p.m. PT)
Week 3 – Aug. 24 vs. Seattle (7:00 p.m. PT)
Week 4 – Aug. 29 at San Francisco (7:00 p.m. PT)
Along with broadcasting games, KABC will also air special pre and postgame coverage during Weeks 1, 3 and 4, with Chargers legend and former radio color analyst Nick Hardwick joining the crew.
"I'm so excited to be back covering the team I love in a limited capacity," Hardwick said. "I look forward to cheering them on to a successful season."
Additional affiliate stations airing the game include: KFMB-TV (San Diego), KLAS (Las Vegas), KBAK/KBFX (Bakersfield), KGMB (Honolulu), KSWT (Yuma/Imperial Valley), KMIR (Palm Springs), KSEE-TV (Fresno) and KTVX-TV (Salt Lake City).
Week 2's game on Aug. 18 against New Orleans will be nationally televised on CBS (1:00 p.m. PT).
Additionally, Weeks 1, 3 and 4 will be simulcast live on NFL Network for fans out of market, putting the entire Chargers preseason slate on display for a national audience in 2019.
For the first time, fans can watch three of four preseason games with the Los Angeles Chargers mobile app for free. The live stream will allow fans living in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia, Yuma/El Centro, Honolulu, Palm Springs and Salt Lake City to follow along. Due to preseason national broadcast restrictions, the Aug. 18 game against the New Orleans Saints will be available on the Yahoo Sports app. Fans out-of-market will need to use NFL Game Pass to watch these games on mobile phones. Download the Chargers app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
Returning to the radio for the pre and regular season are play-by-play announcer Matt "Money" Smith, color analyst Daniel Jeremiah and sideline reporter Shannon Farren, who can be heard on KFI AM-640. Two hours of pregame coverage can be heard on KFI and KLAC.
As for the Spanish-language radio broadcast team, Mario Solis and Jorge Villanueva return as the play-by-play announcer and color analyst respectively for the second-straight year on KFWB 980-AM.
Chargers radio broadcasts throughout the season will be able to be heard across a number of radio stations from Southern California to Nevada. Fans can listen in English on KGB-FM and KLSD-AM (San Diego), KNWZ-AM (Palm Springs), KALZ-AM (Fresno), KBFP-AM (Bakersfield), KNWH-FM (Yucca Valley), KRLV-FM (Las Vegas), KRAK-AM (Victorville) and KATY-FM (San Bernardino). Spanish broadcasts can be heard on XHFG-FM (San Diego).
