Fox chooses Kevin Kugler to replace Thom Brennaman in NFL play-by-play role, per report

Fox will have Kevin Kugler fill the NFL play-by-play role held previously by suspended Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman, according to a report Tuesday night from The Athletic's Richard Deitsch.

Kugler has done play-by-play for Sunday Night Football on Westwood One since 2013 and has been Westwood One's lead play-by-play announcer for NCAA tournament since 2008, in addition to calling the College World Series. He also does play-by-play for the Big Ten Network and Fox Sports 1.

Fox announced last Thursday that Brennaman will not be part of its broadcasting teams for the upcoming NFL season after he used a homophobic slur on the air before Game 1 of the Reds-Kansas City Royals doubleheader the night before.

“FOX Sports is extremely disappointed with Thom Brennaman’s remarks during Wednesday’s Cincinnati Reds telecast. The language used was abhorrent, unacceptable, and not representative of the values of FOX Sports. As it relates to Brennaman’s FOX NFL role, we are moving forward with our NFL schedule which will not include him.”

The Reds announced late Wednesday that Brennaman was suspended "effective immediately" from broadcasting the team's games.

The Enquirer's Paul Daugherty wrote Wednesday night that he expected Major League Baseball to press the Reds to fire Brennaman, and Brennaman's "distinguished career of three decades will at the very least be put on extended hold."