Dustin Fox Signs Off At The Fan: ‘Beyond My Wildest Dreams’

Beloved Cleveland sports drive-time host Dustin Fox said farewell to his listeners on 92.3 The Fan on Thursday, signing off for a final time. Fox had announced earlier in the week that he intended to leave the station, where he has worked since its inception 13 years ago.

Fox was a co-host on the afternoon drive-time shift the entire time, most recently with Nick Wilson. A former football star at Glenoak High School and Ohio State University captain, Fox spent three seasons as a defensive back in the NFL.

He eventually became just as well known in Cleveland for his broadcasting career, which of course included takes on the Cavaliers.

“I’m so grateful for all of these fans for all of these years for sticking by us, for sticking by me, through hard times, good times, bad times, whatever it may be,” Fox said in his farewell on the air. “You guys have always been there, and I feel like I always wanted to pride myself on being as authentic as I can. Whatever I say on these airwaves, and how I act and how I talk, this is how I am in my personal life. … I hope that I portrayed to you guys who I really am.”

Fox, who lives in Fairlawn, added that he’s “not going anywhere” and will continue to work as an analyst for ESPN college football broadcasts. (He’s serving in that very role for the ESPNU telecast of Pitt vs. Kent State this weekend.)

“Everybody that’s been a part of this, it’s been amazing,” Fox said. “It’s been so far beyond my wildest dreams. I could’ve never imagined that we would create something like this. Something bigger than ourselves, right? It really is.”

Fox, 41, first made his departure known to The Fan listeners on Monday.

“This is something that is kind of a long time coming. This is going to be hard, man,” Fox said on the air. “This is going to be really hard, but I’m not going to bury the lede: Thursday, Aug. 29 will be most last day on The Fan.

“I’m making this decision to leave. And it was not easy. And it has been a lot of praying, a lot of talking with people I trust. A lot of soul-searching in a lot of ways.”

He admitted to dealing with some serious health and personal issues in recent years.

“I was on the doorstep of dying,” he said, referring to this past January. “I was basically having a mental breakdown and everything was spiraling. And I was tired of it. So I got help… I was not healthy and I was going to die.”

Fox added that he is completely sober and has been alcohol-free for more than 200 days.

“I wanted to kill myself,” he said. “And I may have. But I didn’t and I’m here.”

Fox appeared in 12 games total with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills from 2006-08, recording seven tackles for his career.

Hoops Wire wishes Dustin well as he tackles his next chapter.

.@dustinfox37's sign off on @afternoon923FAN

What a 13-year run #StaySteady pic.twitter.com/fPUb66LAXp

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 29, 2024