Longtime ESPN host returns for on-air duties after suffering major heart attack, ‘I was scared’

Tony Rizzo is one of the biggest voices in Cleveland Radio. 

Rizzo has anchored Cleveland’s sport radio market for the last three decades, starting at an AM radio station as an overnight board operator.

YouTube / ESPN Cleveland

He would move to Majic 105.7 – Cleveland, where he eventually started working on the morning show, then at WHK and at FOX 8 news.

Since joining ESPN Cleveland in 2012, he has become one of the city’s most favorite voices across a wide spectrum of sports.

He is popular for his coverage of the Cavaliers, Browns and Guardians, while also sitting down with high-profile guests for interviews.

Rizzo has recently been off the air for a fortnight, before making his return on Monday 18 May.

During his return, he explained the frightening reason for his absence.

“I got bagels for my mom. I drove them out to Middleburg Heights, and I came home,” Rizzo said.

“I got back to my home at 11:30 and my chest seized up, and I couldn’t breathe. I had a heart attack, a major heart attack.

“I knew something was really wrong, because I’d never felt like that before in my life. I couldn’t breathe and my chest was burning.

“Knew something was really, really wrong. I had never felt like that in my life. And I was really scared, really scared.”

He would go on to express just how lucky and grateful he felt to be able to make his return back to the booth.

YouTube / ESPN Cleveland

“I am lucky to be alive and you know me. You know that I am not a hospital guy,” Rizzo added.

“I knew right away the good Lord let me know. Get your ass to the hospital something is very wrong.

“Had I waited about 45 minutes, I would have died.”

Rizzo wastes no time in weighing in on Browns QB battle

As he has done for most of his career, the Cleveland sports veteran did not waste much time in firing a zinger about the Cleveland Browns quarterback battle.

The battle is expected to be between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, with Dillon Gabriel and 2026 draft pick Taylen Green both on the outside looking in.

Watson missed the entirety of the 2025 season while recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon, while Sanders took over as the Browns starter in November. 

Getty

Sanders finished 3-4, throwing for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across eight games.

“My guy (Shedeur) is like an intern,” Rizzo added.

“You know what? It’s the coach’s job to go with the guy he thinks gives him the best chance to win. I have faith in Monken that he’ll do that. He’s not playing favorites.

“I’m just saying a guy that’s a 10-year vet, who was a three-time Pro Bowler, has a big advantage over a kid who they treated like an intern last year. That’s all.”

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