The Los Angeles Chargers have finalized their English language radio and preseason television broadcast teams for the upcoming 2017 season, it was announced today. Matt "Money" Smith will call the play-by-play on KFI AM-640's game broadcasts with former Chargers Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick providing color commentary, while the nationally-prominent broadcast duo of Spero Dedes and Hall of Fame Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts will call the team's three-game preseason slate on ABC7 Los Angeles.
In addition to leading the team's game broadcasts on KFI AM-640, Smith and Hardwick will supplement Chargers coverage across iHeartMedia's extensive network of radio stations throughout the Los Angeles region and provide insight and commentary for Chargers owned content and media.
"Between Matt, Nick, Spero and Dan, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better roster of broadcast talent," said A.G. Spanos, Chargers President of Business Operations. "Matt and Spero have extensive NFL broadcast experience on a national level and are immediately recognizable and highly-regarded in the LA market. Nick and Dan are two of the most popular, not to mention greatest, Chargers to ever play the game. Both have been able to take their on-field experience and translate it into easily accessible insight from the broadcast booth. We are excited to have this level of talent in place and cannot wait for Chargers football to hit the airwaves this season."
The newest member of the Chargers broadcast team and a fixture in Los Angeles sports for more than two decades, Smith is co-host of the nationally syndicated Petros & Money Show on AM 570. He is also a fantasy football analyst on the NFL Network's NFL Fantasy Live show and is regularly featured as part of NFL.com's coverage of the NFL Draft, the NFL Scouting Combine and the Super Bowl. Additionally, for the past seven years, Smith has handled play-by-play for Compass Media Network's coverage of NFL games, NCAA football and NCAA basketball and has also done television play-by-play for the Pac-12 Network and the NFL on Fox. From 2005-09, Smith hosted AM 570's Los Angeles Lakers pregame, halftime and post-game shows, and he was part of the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame morning program 'Kevin and Bean' on KROQ 106.7 FM in Los Angeles from 1995-2005.
Hardwick is a member of the Chargers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team who started every game he played during his 11-year career (2004-14) with the Chargers. A Pro Bowl selection in 2006 and four-time alternate, Hardwick helped the Chargers rush for 1,700-plus yards in all but one season that he started at least 12 games, including a team-record 2,578 yards in '06. A three-time pick as the team's Lineman of the Year and a two-time most inspirational player, Hardwick returns for his second season as the Chargers color analyst after spending the 2015 season as a sideline reporter.
A key member of CBS Television Network's coverage of The NFL On CBS and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship since 2010, Dedes returns for his third year as the play-by-play voice of Chargers preseason telecasts. Continuing a long line of sports broadcasting excellence produced by Fordham University's WFUV Radio – one that began in the 1940s with legendary voice of the Dodgers Vin Scully – Dedes first entered the LA market as the radio play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2005-11. His extensive resume also includes radio and television play-by-play for the New York Knicks, play-by-play and hosting duties for both NBA-TV and YES Network, play-by-play on Westwood One's coverage of NCAA football and basketball, play-by-play for the NFL on FOX, and play-by-play during NBC's coverage of the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Currently a highly-regarded color commentator for The NFL on CBS, Fouts was one of the most prolific passing quarterbacks of his era. During a playing career that spanned from 1973-87, Fouts led the Chargers to two AFC title games, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, led the NFL in passing yards in four consecutive seasons and became the first player in history to throw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. In 1981, posted a then NFL-record 4,802 passing yards. In 15 seasons, all with the Chargers, Fouts completed 3,297 passes for 43,040 yards and 254 touchdowns. He also rushed for 476 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, Fouts was one of only three quarterbacks to pass for more than 40,000 yards. Six years later, in 1993, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A member of the Chargers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Fouts is one of only four Chargers to have his jersey (#14) retired.
