Patriots lose legend in the booth
The New England Patriots have lost a legend, but not on the field. Gino Cappelletti has decided to retire from the Patriots’ radio broadcast booth. The 78-year-old spent the last 32 years on air as a football broadcaster. Capelletti’s career in New England goes back to his time as a player and an assistant coach, which landed him in the Patriots Hall of Fame.
The news was reported by the Boston Globe’s Chad Finn, and according to the article, Scott Zolak, a former Patriots quarterback who hosts a talk show on 98.5 The Sports Hub and acted as a third analyst during the broadcasts last season, is slated to replace Capelletti.
Cappelletti was a member of the franchise’s inaugural team in the American Football League in 1960. He was a league MVP, five-time All-Star, the league’s all-time leading scorer and a member of the all-time All-AFL team.
“Through five decades, my romance with football and my relationship with the Patriots organization have provided me with a lifetime of wonderful memories,” Cappelletti said in a statement released by CBS Boston. “I have had the privilege of sharing the broadcast of six Super Bowls, and amazingly, five in the past decade. The memory of the first Super Bowl victory will always be fresh in my mind. For me, it serves as a special reminder of how far this franchise has come, the challenges that were met, and the adversity we faced in those early years. But as they say in the huddle after a long, successful day’s work, it’s time to take a knee and celebrate the win.’’
Capelletti’s partner in the booth for 28 years, Gil Santos, will return be returning this football season for his 36th year on broadcast.
