Photos of churches across North America steadily pop up on Greg Papa’s cellphone, taken by Syracuse classmate and ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough in whichever city he is calling games.
“You have people all over the world thinking of you and praying for you,” McDonough says in a video from St. Anthony Shrine in downtown Boston.
Emails, texts and calls flood in from other college classmates, all rallying Papa against B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its brutal aftermath, including a months-long hospital stay that required a ventilator.
The same support pours in from Papa’s vast Bay Area cohorts, from every corner of media to every level of the pro teams, especially those around the 49ers, who have called him their play-by-play man since 2019.
“I’ve had a lot of days and nights I couldn’t respond,” Papa, 63, says, “because I was battling for my existence.”
Papa’s childhood idols have reached out — Marv Albert praised his versatility, drawing an excited “Whoa!” from Papa — and more support comes from previously unknown callers, such as A’s broadcaster Johnny Doskow.
“He would send me video messages of him walking on a beach or outside a stadium. It would be an uplifting two-minute message,” Papa said of Doskow. “Wow, I’d never met this man, and to take time out to reach me in that way, it was incredible.”
For decades, for five different Bay Area professional teams, Papa has served as a first-class broadcaster, inspiring listeners with gung-ho descriptions and in-depth knowledge.
For the past year, he has been the one relying on others’ passionate words to push him through a “pretty gnarly” ordeal.
His medical journey has included: a diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia last July; a bone marrow transplant in March via a Hail Mary match with his younger sister, Judy; and the harrowing collapse of both lungs that led to a 78-day hospitalization complete with an induced coma and respirator.
“There were nights I went to bed thinking I’m not waking up tomorrow. That’s not where I’m at now,” Papa said. “My lungs have improved dramatically. I’ve got a little ways to go but not a whole lot. I’m hoping at some point I’ll be able to do the games again.”
Now, for the second straight summer, 49ers training camp goes on without him on the sideline — strolling, watching, eavesdropping, muttering.
Not that he has been disconnected. Even from his UC San Francisco hospital bed, he filled his sports-broadcasting appetite, watching as many as seven NFL games at once last season via multiple laptops, as well as tuning in to watch the NFL’s pre-draft scouting combine and some World Cup soccer.
Last season, he rallied to call the 49ers’ regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks — a 13-3 loss on Jan. 3, but a big win for him to catch up with friends and take pictures, as he did with rapper E-40.
(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Greg Papa waves to the audience from the broadcast booth before their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Papa returns to the radio broadcast booth for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. Papa is is in remission battling leukemia.
The marrow transplant and lung issues have forced another recovery.
“I honestly think I could sit and broadcast a game. But getting there and logistically how it’d work, I have a little to finish on that,” Papa added. “I don’t make proclamations if I can or can’t. My body will guide me. My situation was life-threatening for a long time and it’s not currently.”
Papa’s voice, during a recent hour-long phone interview, oozed familiar gusto. Emotion. Insight. Then came even more emotion, with intermittent pauses to cry.
He gabbed about one person after another, extolling their virtues and inspiration. It’s what he does. It’s what he has always done.
He was not on the call for the 49ers’ preseason opener Thursday against Tennessee at Levi’s Stadium, but he has an open door — an open mic — to stage a vociferous comeback this season.
One conceivable target is the 49ers’ Sept. 20 home opener against the Miami Dolphins.
“We’re praying for you, Greg. We hope you get back soon,” 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, a cancer survivor himself, said on KNBR 680-AM at the start of training camp. “I love you, man; love you to death.”
That radio station — which airs the 49ers’ games — controversially axed Papa’s midday show with Greg Silver on Aug. 5, but Papa remains contractually locked in as the “Voice of the 49ers” through March 2029.
He joined that NFL franchise in 2019, after establishing an epic “Touchdownnnn Rrraiiiderrrrrssss!” call in Oakland from 1997-2018. A proud native of Buffalo, New York, Papa had earlier stints with the Warriors (1986-97), the Giants (2004-08) and the Athletics (1990-2003).
“We love this guy. Just get healthy,” said Bob Sargent, the 49ers’ senior director of broadcast partnerships. “I was in ICU with him for three hours. The fact he let me in there was really personal to me. I love this man.”
Papa was medically cleared in late July to resume broadcasting, and he declined to comment on KNBR’s move to end his show and insert his former partner and close friend John Lund into his old time slot. KNBR’s parent company, Cumulus Media, praised Papa’s service in an Aug. 7 statement, adding: “We are exploring ways to bring his voice back to the station and we wish Greg strength, healing, and a full recovery.”
Guy Haberman, who filled in the majority of 49ers games last season, is booked to call all games this season, either as Papa’s play-by-play stand-in or as a sideline reporter. Not only has Haberman constantly texted and called, but he and his wife, Alyssa, sent Papa protein drinks when he had trouble eating.
“I’m just taking it day by day. Whenever I get back, I get back. I’ll figure out when’s the right time,” Papa said. “But in this process, you don’t get too ahead of yourself. There’s always a new calamity around the corner trying to cripple you.”
From April 24 to July 11, he was hospitalized in San Francisco, almost entirely in intensive care. He has conquered a grueling schedule: Chemotherapy (two rounds). Home isolation. A ventilator. Steroids. Oxygen tanks. Infusions.
After the 49ers and KNBR announced his diagnosis last Aug. 1, Papa received an “overwhelming” outpouring of support, far beyond family and confidants.
In came get-well cards with handwritten words from the likes of former Giants manager Dusty Baker and other Bay Area sports teams. Papa’s fraternity of NFL broadcasters stay updated via text, and Saints counterpart Mike Hoss even mailed him a New Orleans-made muffaletta sandwich.
“It’s just continued over the ensuing time,” Papa, a father of six, said. “A lot of people I don’t know got my contact info. I’ve had just a flood of well wishes and love and support — many of them were people I’ve never met.”
Papa then paused his conversation. Emotions were checked. He flipped into game mode, insisting time is left on his clock.
“A lot of it is like they’re eulogizing me. (Expletive), I ain’t dead. I’m here in the back of the church. I’m fine,” Papa said. “It’s been a weird, out-of-body experience. But it’s been amazing, brother.
“It’s a total epiphany,” Papa continued. “I’ll never be the same individual I was before.”
(Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Skyler Shapiro, 11, throws a football with his father Greg Papa on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in San Rafael, Calif.
The David Benzer Strike Out Fear Foundation, a 501(c)(3)nonprofit, has established a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the financial burden of Papa’s long recovery period. Funds will be used to assist with everyday living expenses while Papa is unable to work, as well as medical out-of-pocket expenses not fully covered by insurance, including medical co-pays, uncovered medications and home healthcare. Those who wish to support Papa can visit: support.strikeoutfear.org/helpgregpapabeatcancer