If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Parkway West while Ben Roethlisberger was still under center, you know the vibe. There is a specific frequency that defines Pittsburgh mornings. It’s loud. It’s opinionated. It is often incredibly stubborn. For most of us, 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh morning show is the soundtrack to that commute, serving as the digital watercooler where we collectively lose our minds over a Mike Tomlin decision or a Bob Nutting payroll restriction. It’s not just radio; it’s a lifestyle for a city that lives and dies by the black and gold.
Radio is supposed to be dying, right? That’s what the tech gurus say. But in Pittsburgh, sports talk is a different beast entirely. It’s tribal. The morning slot on KDKA-FM (93.7 The Fan) has navigated massive shifts in personnel and listener habits, yet it remains the primary pulse of the city. Whether you're a "Yinzer" through and through or a transplant trying to understand why everyone is yelling about a backup offensive lineman, this show is the entry point.
The Evolution of the 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh Morning Show
The show hasn't always looked the same. Honestly, the lineup changes over the years have felt a bit like the Pirates’ roster—sometimes you need a program to keep track of who’s in the dugout. We saw the era of The Fan Morning Show with Gregg Giannotti, who eventually jumped to the massive stage of WFAN in New York. We had the long run of the Dunlap and Zeise era. Every time a host leaves, there's a collective panic in the 412 area code. People hate change. They really hate it when their morning coffee doesn't come with the voices they've grown to trust or, in many cases, love to argue with.
Currently, the heavy lifting is done by the The Fan Morning Show featuring Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson. This pairing brought a fresh dynamic to the station. You’ve got Crowley, the career radio pro who knows how to stir the pot and back it up with a deep-dive statistical analysis that would make a sabermetrics nerd blush. Then you’ve got Dorin. Dorin Dickerson isn't just a "talking head." He's a local legend—a West Allegheny high school phenom who went to Pitt and eventually played in the NFL. When he talks about what’s happening in a locker room, he isn't guessing. He’s lived it. That credibility is the currency of the 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh morning show.
The chemistry matters. If the hosts sound like they're reading off a teleprompter, Pittsburghers smell it instantly. They want to hear guys who sound like they’re sitting at a Primanti’s at 2:00 AM arguing about whether the Penguins should trade their first-round pick. Crowley and Dickerson manage to balance that "fan" energy with actual journalistic insight.
Why the Morning Slot Wins (And Sometimes Frustrates)
Why do we listen? It’s not always because we agree. In fact, some of the highest-rated segments are the ones where the hosts say something so controversial that the phone lines at the Greentree studios light up like a Christmas tree.
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There’s a specific "Pittsburgh" way of communicating. We’re blunt.
The morning show understands this. They don't sugarcoat the reality of the Pirates' farm system or pretend the Steelers' offensive line is world-class when it’s clearly struggling. They lean into the misery when things are bad, and they lead the parade when things are good. That emotional intelligence—knowing when the city needs to vent and when it needs to celebrate—is why they beat out national syndication every single time. You can’t get that from a national show based in Bristol or Los Angeles. Those guys don't know what a "jagoff" is. They don't understand the psychological trauma of a late-season collapse against a two-win team.
The Power of Local Access
One of the biggest advantages of the 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh morning show is the guest list. Because they are the flagship station for various local interests, they get the interviews that matter.
- Steelers Insiders: Guys like Ray Fittipaldo or Gerry Dulac are staples.
- The Coaches: Hearing directly from the decision-makers shortly after a game.
- National Voices: They frequently pull in national NFL or MLB analysts to provide an outside perspective on our local drama.
But let’s be real: the best "guests" are often the callers. "Deep-fried" voices from Monongahela or Cranberry calling in to explain their five-step plan for the Steelers' draft. It’s chaos. It’s beautiful. It’s Pittsburgh.
Breaking Down the Content Strategy
If you look at how the show is structured, it’s a masterclass in pacing. They start early—usually 6:00 AM—hitting the headlines for the people who need the "just the facts" version before they hit the office. As the morning progresses, the segments get deeper.
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They use a mix of "The Lead," which is the biggest story of the day, and recurring bits that keep the mood light. You've probably heard them debate things that have nothing to do with sports, like the best place to get a fish fry during Lent or the absolute worst intersections in the city. This "lifestyle" integration is vital. It makes the hosts feel like your neighbors.
The Digital Shift
It’s not just about the radio dial anymore. The Audacy app has changed the game. You can be sitting on a beach in Florida and still hear Crowley and Dickerson arguing about the Pens' power play. This has expanded the "Fan" community globally. Ex-Pittsburghers (and there are millions of them) use the 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh morning show as a tether to home.
The station also chops the show into podcasts. If you missed the 7:00 AM hour because you were dropping the kids at school, you can catch the "best of" or specific interview clips on Spotify or Apple Podcasts by lunchtime. This accessibility is why their influence hasn't waned despite the rise of independent YouTubers and bloggers. They have the infrastructure and the reach.
Navigating the Critics
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and Super Bowl trophies. Every host at 93.7 The Fan has their detractors. Some listeners think they’re too negative. Others think they’re "shills" for the teams they cover. This tension is actually a sign of a healthy sports culture. If everyone agreed, the show would be boring.
The morning show often acts as a mirror. When the city is cynical, the show is cynical. When the city is hopeful, the show is hopeful. There’s a constant push-and-pull between the hosts' professional analysis and the callers' raw emotion. Occasionally, a host might go too far with a take, leading to a week-long "cancel" campaign on Twitter (X), but usually, that just drives more people to tune in the next day to see what they’ll say next.
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Listening Experience
If you're new to the show or a long-time listener looking to engage more, there are a few things you should know.
First, the phone number is burned into every local’s brain: 412-333-9370. If you want to get on air, you have to have a point. Don't just call and say "The Steelers need to win." Everyone knows that. Call with a specific stat or a unique angle. The producers are the gatekeepers; if you sound like you have something interesting to say, you’ll get through.
Second, follow the hosts on social media. A lot of the show's "inside jokes" start on Twitter the night before during a game. If you aren't following the guys, you might miss the context of a hilarious five-minute rant at 7:15 AM.
Third, use the "Rewind" feature on the Audacy app. It’s a lifesaver. If you hear people talking on social media about a specific segment that happened an hour ago, you can literally slide the bar back and listen to it in real-time.
Actionable Steps for the Pittsburgh Sports Fan
To truly stay in the loop with the 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh morning show and the wider sports landscape in the city, you need a multi-platform approach.
- Download the Audacy App: This is non-negotiable for high-quality streaming and the "rewind" capability.
- Subscribe to the Podcast Feed: Search for "The Fan Morning Show" on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss the big interviews.
- Engage on Socials: Follow Adam Crowley (@adampgh) and Dorin Dickerson (@scorindorin) to see their unfiltered thoughts during live games.
- Set Your Alerts: Use the app to notify you when major breaking news is happening. They are almost always the first to go "wall-to-wall" with coverage when a big trade or firing occurs.
Pittsburgh is a city built on steel, smoke, and sports. While the mills are mostly gone, the sports culture is stronger than ever. The morning show on 93.7 The Fan isn't just a broadcast; it's the heartbeat of the city’s sports soul. Whether you’re cheering, booing, or just shaking your head in disbelief, you’re part of the conversation. Turn it up.