Ray Didinger has retired

Ray Didinger has been an icon of sports journalism in the Philadelphia area for more than 50 years. He has been a reporter, beat writer, columnist and all that work got him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton OH. He also worked for NFL Films and earned a bunch of Emmys for his work there.

He signed off his weekend radio show last weekend after doing that for more than 20 years. I told Ray more than once that his great contribution to sports radio was that he made it safe for people who live under the right end of the bell curve to listen in.

Beyond all of those accomplishments - - and there were several others - - Ray Didinger is one of the most genuine and most likeable human beings on the planet.

Stay well, Ray Didinger...

 

Didinger was cool and sage in a sports town where others have made their name by overreacting to everything. He was passionate and measured at the same time. Never seen anyone in Philly media do it better.

 

Good Lord. I first encountered him when I used to subscribe by mail to The Evening Bulletin when I was in college. This was 1980. Had no idea he was still plugging away.

 

Agreed, and well said. A voice of calm amid the WIP circus.

He was always respectful to callers, even the ones who wanted to know why the Eagles couldn’t “package” a third-string linebacker and a fifth-round draft pick for Aaron Donald.

And no one knows football better.

 

All the best to a legend. Hub Arkush in Chicago is much the same on radio ... though Hub's been known to get pissed every once in a while.

 

Ray Didinger is Mr. NFL Football