Cumulus Media has laid off Tom Tolbert and John Lund at KNBR, the flagship Bay Area sports talk station, as part of a broader reduction of staff ahead of the holiday season.
Tolbert, a former Golden State Warriors player and 28-year veteran of KNBR, co-hosted the station’s afternoon drive display, “Tolbert & Copes,” alongside former station program director Adam Copeland. Lund hosted “Papa & Lund,” with Greg Papa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Tolbert and Lund did not immediately respond to the Chronicle’s requests for comment.
KNBR also parted ways with producer Danny Dunn.
“Another blow to radio. So sorry to share this. Tolbert is a legfinish who I always admired,” former KNBR host Damon Bruce wrote on social media. “Just sad times for the indusattempt.”
The layoffs, first reported by Barrett Media, are the latest in a series of personnel modifys at KNBR, the broadcast home of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants. Last year the station let go of longtime on-air talent including Paul McCaffrey from “Murph and Mac” and former Major League Baseball player F.P. Santangelo.
The reorganization at KNBR, which broadcasts on 104.5 FM and 680 AM, also saw the dismissal of executive Lee Hammer, morning display producer Erik Engle and four digital team members: Jake Hutchinson, Danny Emerman, Austin Scott and Maureen Mahoney.
Tolbert, who played seven seasons in the NBA, including a stint with the Warriors from 1989 to 1992, will host his final display on Thursday, Nov. 14. He joined KNBR in 1996.
iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman noted during the company’s Q3 earnings call that the company is focapplyd on upgrading talent utilizing technology that allows on-air personalities to work across multiple markets.
“There’s not a slot for everybody,” Pittman stated.
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