ESPN’s Chris Fowler explained why his voice sounded noticeably worse for wear on Monday Night Football.
“For those who are concerned, I feel great,” Fowler, 63, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, September 16. “Had a sinus infection a week ago after the USOpen/CFB grind. I’m healthy now, but vocal recovery is lagging behind and that frustrates me.”
He acknowledged his voice was “wearing out late in the game.”
Fowler was on the call for the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Monday, September 15, alongside analysts Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick.
The Chargers defeated the Raiders, 20-9.
Fowler also works as the lead color analyst for ESPN’s college football coverage and extensively covered the US Open tennis tournament for the network in the lead-up to football season kicking off.
The gravelly nature of Fowler’s voice became fodder for many of the football fans watching at home.
“Chris Fowler’s voice sounds like an 80 year old retiree who’s been sitting at a slot machine sucking down 3 packs of cigarettes for multiple days in a row,” one viewer wrote via X. “Viva Las Vegas 😂.”
Another wrote, “Someone get Chris Fowler a lozenge or two or some tea because his voice is going through it.”
While some on social media had jokes, not everybody found the state of Fowler’s voice quite as funny.
“It’s too bad that ESPN doesn’t have any other announcers on staff and they (apparently) are making Chris Fowler call this #MNF game while he is sick & nearly losing his voice,” one viewer wrote via X.
Another wrote, “I speak for the entire football community on this one— ESPN, please give Chris Fowler a night off. We don’t need to hear his raspy voice for 3 hours. He’s clearly sick and needs some rest 🤧.”
Sports Illustrated reporter Jimmy Traina said via X, “The terrible audio combined with Chris Fowler’s not 100% voice is absolutely atrocious on this game.”
Despite his vocal issues, Fowler still gushed about his broadcast partners and being in the Monday Night Football booth. Fowler took to the air in the second half of the network’s doubleheader on Monday night. The first game, called by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, featured the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating the Houston Texans, 20-19.
“Truly love sharing a broadcast, sharing time and meals with these guys and the rest of our team for the MNF mini-package,” he wrote via Instagram. “@dorlovsky @louis.riddick are complete pros with high standards and passion for the process. I learn some ball from them every time.”
