On June 1, 2026, Bob Costas returned to the microphone for a special 1980s-themed broadcast of the Chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves game. This nostalgic return has reignited a wave of appreciation across sports media, particularly on The Ringer NBA Show, where hosts are fantasizing about bringing him back to basketball broadcasting full-time.
On the show's annual broadcast draft, Bryan Curtis went so far as to replace a beloved icon with Bob Costas for his dream studio lineup. "With one exception. Instead of Ernie, no offense to Ernie, we're gonna put Bob Costas in the host seat," Curtis declared. Logan Murdock leaned heavily into the nostalgia of the classic NBA on NBC era, pleading, "actually, Bob, can you just do... Bob Costas, can you just do this every week? I mean, you're in New York."
Even when evaluating the next generation of play-by-play talent, Bob Costas remains the gold standard. Logan Murdock compared rising star Noah Eagle to the legend, noting, "I think he's been amazing. I think he's like a young Bob Costas."
While Bob Costas's recent baseball appearance proved he still has his classic signature style, the podcast world is clearly hoping NBC's upcoming basketball coverage might lure him back to the studio for one final run.