Report: Mike Francesa Planning Return To Sports Radio WFAN

NEW YORK (CBS2) -- Host Mike Francesa may be returning to Sports Radio WFAN after having quit the station four months ago, according to an interview by a local newspaper.

According to Newsday, the radio host said Tuesday "it is time to return to WFAN," signaling a reversal of his decision to end his 30-year tenure with the station.

Francesa joined WFAN in 1987 and served up commentary on New York and national sports headlines for 30 years, including a run from 1989 to 2008 with Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo on the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show.

On Dec. 15, Francesa thanked fans and seemed at peace with ending his on-air run with WFAN, which included the "Francesa: A Night to Remember" event at Long Island's Tilles Center in Greenvale in November and a showcase of tweets from fellow broadcasters and athletes.

"Thirty years of this has been a blessing," Francesa said during his final monologue. "It's been a gift. It's more than anybody could've ever hoped for. I've had the best job in the world."

Should he return to his former time slot, it was unclear what the future would hold for his successors -- Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray and Bart Scott -- who currently are heard on WFAN from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This week Francesa was taking a different tone.

"This is for those who started this campaign in recent days. I didn't decide to go back to WFAN until I was told I better not go back," Francesa told Newsday. "For those behind it, that was the moment I decided to return."

On Tuesday afternoon, WFAN released a statement regarding the potential of Francesa's return:

"WFAN confirms that we are in ongoing discussions with Mike Francesa about the possibility of him returning to the station," a statement from the station said. "We also confirm that we are very proud of our current line-up at WFAN and that any potential future engagement with Mike will not result in any talent departures. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending negotiations and have nothing further to add at this moment."

Francesa told Newsday he worked with the agency CAA on a project that includes WFAN.

"That will be explained in the days ahead," he said to Newsday.

(Editor's Note: Sports Radio WFAN-AM was owned by CBS Corporation until its sale to another company in November 2017.)