Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, who turns 67 in October, has indicated that he does not plan to retire from his media career anytime soon. "I would think for the next couple of years you’ll see me and hear me the times you want to do it," Russo told The Post.
Russo, a prominent voice in sports talk radio, left WFAN in 2008 and subsequently launched his own channel on SiriusXM, where he is currently under contract through 2027. He also holds a weekly spot on ESPN's "First Take," a role that developed after a guest appearance in 2022.
![Chris Russo on "First Take"]( "Chris Russo on "First Take" on July 15, 2026.")
When asked about retirement, Russo expressed that he still feels capable of making contributions to the sports media landscape. "I still feel good. I still love and think I can make a contribution, so we’re going to work as much as we can," he said. He also noted that retirement might lead to boredom with his wife if they were to spend too much time together without separate pursuits.
Russo has built a career on delivering strong opinions and engaging in debates, which often ignite social media discussions. He recently gained unexpected attention for a segment discussing Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln on his SiriusXM radio show, "Mad Dog Unleashed."
Despite occasional criticism, Russo stated that he is unfazed by public reaction as long as his commentary generates engagement. "I don’t worry too much about what people say, as long as they have an opinion about what I say," Russo commented. "I mean, if they were apathetic, that’s a bad sign. They’re not. That’s the most important sign."
Russo also noted that he is not looking to take on an excessive number of jobs, finding his current commitments with ESPN and SiriusXM to be sufficient. "I’m not going to overdo it. I’m not gonna take 20 jobs, but ESPN is nice enough to still have me, and you got the radio, that’s plenty."