He was the "King." For nearly four decades, if you lived in Philadelphia and breathed sports, you heard him. Howard Eskin wasn't just a radio host; he was a polarizing, fur-coat-wearing, lightning rod of a human being who practically invented the sports talk format in this city back in 1986.
Then, suddenly, he was gone. No grand retirement tour. No final emotional broadcast. Just a Friday afternoon news dump in late 2024 that ended a 38-year run.
Howard Eskin leaving WIP wasn't the clean break many expected for a local legend. It was messy. It was controversial. Honestly, it was a bit sad for those who grew up on his "geniuses" and "dopes" routine.
The Incident That Sparked the Exit
You might have heard the rumors, but the reality is more specific. The breaking point didn't happen in the studio. It happened at a Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia during a remote broadcast with Eagles legend Brandon Graham.
According to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer, an altercation occurred between Eskin and a female employee of Audacy, WIP's parent company. Sources claimed Eskin shouted at the employee and, more seriously, "forcibly grabbed" her after she interrupted a conversation.
Eskin, of course, has a different version. He calls it a "vicious smear campaign." He admits he was irritated. He admits he raised his voice. But he vehemently denies any physical altercation, claiming he merely tapped her arm to apologize after she walked away.
Regardless of which side you believe, the timing was catastrophic. Eskin was already on thin ice.
A Pattern of Problems
To understand why the "King" lost his throne, you have to look back a few months before the December departure. In May 2024, Eskin was involved in an incident at Citizens Bank Park.
He allegedly gave an "unwelcome kiss" to an Aramark employee. The Phillies didn't mess around; they banned him from the ballpark for the rest of the season. The 76ers followed suit, barring him from their training facility.
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WIP kept him on the air after that first incident, which frustrated a lot of people. Longtime morning host Angelo Cataldi even wrote on his blog that the station shouldn't have let him continue without a hiatus.
By the time the Chickie’s & Pete’s incident rolled around in December, the rope had simply run out.
The Legacy of a Provocateur
Love him or hate him—and Philly definitely did both—you can't deny his impact. Howard Eskin was the first voice on WIP when it flipped to sports. He set the tone for the entire city’s sports culture.
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He was the guy who asked the questions nobody else would. He’d grill a manager until they turned red. He’d wear a different fur coat to every Eagles game. It was theater.
His son, Spike Eskin, now hosts the afternoon show on the same station. It's a weird dynamic, right? Spike had to address his father’s departure on air, acknowledging the "knowledge I picked up of what to do and what not to do over the years." That "what not to do" part probably carries a lot of weight these days.
What is Howard Eskin Doing Now?
The King didn't go into a quiet retirement. That’s not his style.
By early 2025, he had already pivoted. He launched a new podcast, and for his first guest, he brought on none other than Charles Barkley. It was a classic Howard move—proving he still has the biggest Rolodex in the city.
He’s still 73. He still says he has no intention of slowing down. He’s just doing it on his own terms now, away from the corporate structure of Audacy and the 94.1 FM frequency.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Listeners
If you're wondering how to follow the fallout or where to find the "King" now, here is the current state of play:
- The Podcast: Eskin is now producing a solo podcast where he continues his usual brand of Eagles and Phillies commentary. You can find it on most major platforms.
- Social Media: He remains extremely active on X (formerly Twitter). He still posts live updates from games, even if he's sitting in the stands instead of standing on the sidelines.
- WIP’s New Direction: The station has moved on. Devan Kaney took over many of the sideline duties, and the Saturday morning slot has been reshuffled.
- The Legal Side: While no criminal charges were filed in the incidents mentioned, the internal investigations by Audacy were what ultimately led to the "parting of ways."
The era of the "King" at WIP is over. It ended not with a bang, but with a series of incidents that the modern media landscape simply won't tolerate. Whether you think he was treated fairly or finally got what was coming to him, Philadelphia sports radio will never sound quite the same.