Honestly, if you told a sports fan in 1989 that the guy screaming about the San Francisco Giants’ middle relief in a screeching, high-pitched New York accent would still be the most relevant voice in sports media nearly four decades later, they’d have called you crazy. But here we are in 2026, and Mad Dog Chris Russo isn't just surviving; he’s essentially the king of the mountain.
It’s weird. Most broadcasters hit their late 60s and start eyeing the golf course or a quiet "emeritus" role where they show up once a year to wave at a camera. Not Dog. At 66, Christopher Michael Russo is arguably more "in your face" than he was during the peak of the Mike and the Mad Dog era on WFAN. Between his massive three-year SiriusXM extension signed back in 2024 and his weekly "What Are You Mad About?" segments on ESPN’s First Take, he’s reached a level of cross-generational fame that few in this business ever touch.
The Renaissance of the "Dog"
You’ve seen the clips. Russo, red-faced, hands waving like he’s trying to land a plane in a thunderstorm, screaming at Stephen A. Smith about a baseball stat from 1954. It’s theater. But it’s theater built on a foundation of actual, encyclopedic knowledge that most of the younger "hot take" artists just don't have.
People forget that Chris Russo wasn't supposed to be this national TV star. He was a New York radio guy. A local legend. When he left Mike Francesa in 2008 to start Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM, a lot of skeptics thought he’d disappear into the satellite vacuum. Instead, he built a literal empire.
Why does he still matter? Basically, because he’s authentic. In a world of polished, PR-trained athletes and broadcasters who are terrified of losing their access, Russo is a flamethrower.
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Take his 2025 rant against Joe Davis, for example. Russo absolutely eviscerated Davis for hosting the Dodgers' World Series parade just days after calling the games as a "neutral" national broadcaster for Fox. He called it "bogus." He said it would make Blue Jays fans "vomit." It was vintage Mad Dog—unfiltered, aggressive, and rooted in a very old-school belief about how sports media should work. You don't have to agree with him to realize that nobody else is saying it with that much conviction.
That 2024 Contract and the Future
There was a moment around 2023 where Russo joked about retirement. He even infamously said he’d retire if the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Phillies in the NLCS. Well, the Diamondbacks won, and... Dog stayed.
In mid-2024, he doubled down, signing a new three-year deal with SiriusXM to keep Mad Dog Unleashed as the flagship of Channel 82. That deal carries him through 2027. He’s also locked into a multiyear extension with ESPN. It’s a grueling schedule:
- High Heat on MLB Network (daily)
- First Take on ESPN (weekly Wednesdays)
- Mad Dog Unleashed on SiriusXM (3-6 PM ET daily)
That’s a lot of talking. Like, a lot. But Russo has famously said that as long as he’s "hot," he isn't going anywhere. He saw what happened with his old partner, Mike Francesa—the "retirement" that wasn't really a retirement—and he seems determined to keep the pedal to the metal until the wheels actually fall off.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Him
A lot of people think Mad Dog is just a "scream-er." They hear the whistles and the "Good afternoon everybody!" and think it’s a gimmick.
It’s not.
If you listen to a full three-hour show on SiriusXM, you realize the guy is a historian. He can tell you who the third-string catcher was for the 1962 Mets without checking a smartphone. That’s the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that Google loves and listeners respect. He isn't reading a teleprompter; he’s living the history of the games.
He’s also surprisingly self-aware. He knows he’s the "old man on the hill" sometimes. He’s joked about his $10,000-per-appearance fee on First Take (which he accidentally leaked on Howard Stern’s show) and leans into the caricature. But when he sits down for a serious interview with a league commissioner or a legendary author, the "Dog" persona softens into one of the best prepared interviewers in the business.
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The Radio Hall of Fame Legacy
Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2022, Russo’s place in history is set. He and Francesa basically invented the sports talk format as we know it. Every podcast you listen to today, every "two guys arguing" show on cable—it all traces back to the 19 years they spent together at WFAN.
While they had a famously rocky start (the "Dog Date Afternoon" bit in the early 90s was apparently the turning point that kept them from "divorcing" early on), their legacy is the blueprint. Even in 2026, fans are still obsessed with the "Mike and the Mad Dog" dynamic. Whether it’s Francesa popping up on Russo’s show or the occasional reunion, the chemistry is still there, even if they’re both doing their own thing now.
Actionable Insights for Sports Fans and Aspiring Broadcasters
If you want to follow the Mad Dog Chris Russo model, or just want to get the most out of his content in 2026, here is what you need to do:
- Listen Beyond the Rants: Don't just watch the 60-second ESPN clips. Tune into Mad Dog Unleashed on SiriusXM Channel 82 for the deep-dive interviews. His ability to pull stories out of old-timers is unmatched.
- Study the Preparation: Russo succeeds because he does the work. If you're a creator, notice how he references specific dates, box scores, and historical context. Passion is the fuel, but knowledge is the vehicle.
- Embrace Authenticity: In the age of AI-generated content and scripted takes, Russo proves that being "kinda" crazy and totally yourself is the only way to build a 40-year career.
- Check the Schedule: Remember, Wednesday is the day for the ESPN circus. If you want the pure, baseball-heavy Mad Dog, stick to High Heat on MLB Network during the season.
The sports landscape changes every day. Teams move, players switch jerseys for $500 million, and broadcasters come and go. But as long as there’s something to be "mad" about, Chris Russo is going to be there, screaming into a microphone and making sure we’re all paying attention. He’s a rare breed—the last of the true radio titans who actually survived the jump to the digital age.
To keep up with his latest rants, you can follow his "What Are You Mad About?" segments on the ESPN YouTube channel or catch the full daily replay of his radio show on the SiriusXM app. Be prepared for a lot of mentions of 1950s baseball and at least three mentions of the phrase "Listen to me!" per hour.