Who Is Kevin Harlan? Exploring the Career of the Ex-TNT Reporter on the Verge of Joining Amazon

Being the son of someone great does not necessarily entail being overshadowed by them. And no one embodies this better than fabled announcer Kevin Harlan. The son of former Green Bay Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan, Kevin has undoubtedly managed to build a legacy of his own, one that stands strong without his father’s influence!

After all, history is littered with examples to the contrary. Even ones in our sport, like Michael Jordan’s sons, who were unable to carve out their own legacies. So how did Kevin Harlan manage to step out of his father’s shadow? Let’s find out.

How long has Kevin Harlan been a sports announcer? A look into the various leagues he has worked with

Kevin Harlan entered his 40th year as an announcer for the NFL in 2024, while the same was his 38th year as an NBA announcer. Such longevity demands respect. However, that isn’t all. Harlan is also the lead NFL radio voice for Westwood One and Monday Night Football. He has held this position since 2009. He sits at 3rd all-time for the total number of network television sports broadcasts! 

Kevin was the play-by-play voice of Westwood One Radio’s Final Four coverage of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. However, that ended when he was called up to broadcast his first Super Bowl in 2009 at Super Bowl XLV!

Super Bowl 58 was his 14th consecutive Super Bowl broadcast, the most for anyone in tele history. He joins Dick Stockton and Marv Albert in an exclusive club. These men are the only ones with 3000+ career national TV broadcasts of the 4 major pro sports. Harlan also calls the preseason games for his hometown club, Green Bay Packers. He’s doing this since 2003. Where does he find the time!?

Which university and high school did Kevin Harlan attend?

Kevin Harlan’s career as an announcer started when he was a teenager at Our Lady of Premontre High School. He called play-by-play for the school’s boys’ basketball, football, and ice hockey teams for their radio station, WGBP-FM. And while his father was an executive in the Green Bay Packers front office, the teenager Harlan worked there as a ball boy!

After high school, the future iconic voice of MNF was leaning towards attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison or the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in communication/mass media. However, announcer, Gary Bender’s personal recommendation to his dad altered his plans.

Instead, he joined the University of Kansas and its School of Journalism and Mass Com. Here, he met the Jayhawks’ primary play-by-play announcer Tom Hedrick, who took him under his wing as his protégé. 

Harlan was given a sideline position in his freshman year, eventually becoming Hedrik’s understudy and fill-in. He was a member of the Sigma Chi frat at the uni before he graduated in 1982. Now, with his background established, let’s reflect on some of the best calls made by this legendary broadcaster.

What are Kevin Harlan’s most iconic calls in the NBA? 

Throughout his storied career, Kevin has made some incredible calls. He’s known for his injection of humor and for dramatizing moments that may appear mundane to others. He has this knack for making iconic calls, you know? Let’s see how many we remember.

One such call came in May 2008, while he was TNT’s play-by-play announcer for the 2nd round playoff games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. Down 2-1 in the series, Cleveland led the 4th game, 82-75. Just then, LeBron James made an incredible play as he drove down the lane, finishing with a thunderous dunk.

Harlan exclaimed, “LeBron James with no regard for human life!” The play? Iconic. The call? Also ICONIC.

Eleven years later, Harlan still hadn’t lost his touch in 2019. The game was tied at 90 during Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference SFs between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors. With 4.2 seconds left, Kawhi Leonard received the ball and shot an extraordinary buzzer-beater, which did a quadruple bounce on the rim before going in. Here’s how the legendary announcer called it. 

“It’s off to Leonard, defended by Simmons… Is this danger?” he paused as the ball bounced. “OHHHHH! GAME! SERIES!! TORONTO HAS WON!!” Harlan added so much to this moment with his incredible commentary.

One of his more recent highlights came during Game 4 of the 2nd round playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. With only 1.6 seconds remaining, Jamal Murray made an audacious attempt, 10 feet off the half-court line, right beside where Harlan was seated. The following was the call that led to a viral moment. 

“Murray, good if it goes…Got it! Got it!! Got it!!” he chanted “A big-time three! Oh, what a shot!” Harlan exclaimed, standing up from his seat. Murray, who had heard the call, stared at the announcer with a look of frenzied determination. Their staredown from across the announcer’s table became a sensation among NBA fans everywhere. What a legendary moment!

His career aside, Harlan is also an incredibly devoted husband, father, and grandfather. So read on if you want to know the people behind one of the most iconic voices in sports!

Who is Kevin Harlan married to? How many kids does he have?

Kevin Harlan married his wife Ann Harlan, formerly Ann Tust, 37 years ago. Together, the couple has four children (Haley, Abigail, Rob, and Olivia), who have also blessed the pair with 5 grandchildren.

Kevin and his daughter, Olivia, made history at the 58th edition of the Super Bowl. They became the first-ever father-daughter duo to call and cover a Super Bowl. Guess greatness runs in the family, huh?

Now on the precipice of a deal with Amazon Prime Video to become one of their play-by-play announcers for the NBA, TNT’s loss could be Amazon’s gain. Although, as fans, all we really care about is hearing Kevin Harlan call games like we’re used to for years to come!