NASHVILLE – Taylor Zarzour was in Knoxville last August for the University of Tennessee's season-opener against Chattanooga, working as the play-by-play man for SEC Network.
When he checked his text messages during a break in the action, there was one from Mike Keith, long-time Voice of the Titans. The gist of the message: Nice job, and props to the broadcast crew for keeping things interesting in what was a lopsided, 69-3 finish.
Fast-forward to last week, and Zarzour was on the phone with Keith, who is now in Knoxville himself as the new play-by-play man for the Vols. Keith was congratulating Zarzour once again, and also encouraging him, as he steps into his new role with the Tennessee Titans.
Zarzour on Monday was officially announced as the new play-by-play man of the Titans, where he'll replace Keith.
"I know people always say this, when they get a job that they are excited about, how it is like a dream come true, or a chance of a lifetime," Zarzour said. "To sit here today, I can't stop thinking about this opportunity, and I am really excited to get going. The things that are the most fulfilling to me are calling sporting events, doing football, and golf, but doing play-by-play and being the extension of a community.
"To be the voice of a team in a town my wife and I have always dreamed of living in, I can't believe it. I am super excited about it."
In addition to being the team's play-by-play announcer, Zarzour will host both the "Brian Callahan Show" radio program and "Titans Football with Brian Callahan" television show, as well as various other interviews and events. The full 2025 Titans broadcast team will be finalized in the near future.
For Zarzour, the return to Nashville will be a homecoming of sorts.
Twenty-four years ago, he was co-host for the "Morning Sports Page" on Sports Radio 560 in Nashville before returning to his hometown of Mobile, where he served as the Program Director and Afternoon Host for Sports Radio 105.5 WNSP. Zarzour began his broadcasting career as a sports reporter for WEAR TV in Pensacola, Fla.
"I knew he was destined for big things," said Bob McClellan, who was Zarzour's co-host at 560-AM in Nashville. "He was all about it, was so happy to be there, eager to be a part of it. He definitely had the enthusiasm and the want-to to get to where he has gotten to now. So, to hear about this, it's pretty cool. I'm fired up for him."
SEC fans know Zarzour for his role as play-by-play commentator for SEC Network's Saturday afternoon college football games. He originally joined ESPN in 2015, and has also called college baseball games.
In addition, Zarzour is a host and director for SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and serves as the radio voice for golf's major championships. He's working The Masters golf tournament this week.
Zarzour will continue in his roles with college sports and golf, but his home base will be Nashville, with the Titans.
"We are so excited to welcome Taylor back to Nashville, and to add him to our team as Titans broadcaster," said Titans Sr. VP of Brand Marketing, Erin Swartz. "We were immediately struck by his passion for connecting with fans through his broadcasts, and by the energy he brings to his work. We know he'll fit right into the Titans community and can't wait for fans to meet him."
Zarzour, who graduated from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Ala.) in 2000, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, moved to North Carolina in 2004 as the Program Director and Morning Host for Triangle Sports Talk 1490/1090 in Raleigh/Durham. He later became the Sports Director for Curtis Media Group in Raleigh, while also hosting his own daily sports talk show. In January 2011, Zarzour moved to Charlotte to join 610 WFNZ, as the host of The Drive each weekday afternoon.
Zarzour said he has a lot of friends in Nashville, and connections in the community. His wife, Betsy, went to college at the University of the South in Sewanee.
Zarzour knows he has a tough act to follow in Keith, someone he's admired from afar.
"I think the world of Mike – I've always been a big fan of his, and think he's always done such an incredible job of calling a game but also being an extension of the community, of the fan base," Zarzour said. "And I will certainly try in my own way to create that connection as well. I am certainly not going to try to be him, I'll try to be me. But, make no mistake, we are going to celebrate Mike forever, and we are going to play Mike's greatest calls, and refer to his greatest calls. And, if (President and CEO) Burke (Nihill) gets mad at me, that's fine, but I hope we name the radio booth in the new stadium after Mike Keith, and I mean that. He deserves that – it should be "The Mike Keith Radio Booth" in the new stadium.
"But I do think people will see very quickly that I get really excited about representing a team and a community, the way Mike did. But I am going to sound like Taylor, I am not going to sound like Mike."
And, Zarzour said he's ready to represent the Titans.
"When I was a kid, I loved listening to football games on the radio, and one person in particular that really stands out is Larry Munson, just the way he connected to Georgia fans and how he represented them. And obviously he has strong ties to Nashville, too, (from his days at Vanderbilt)," Zarzour said.
"I just always loved how he represented everyone that was listening on that broadcast. And I'm not saying that I'm going to be as strong of being a homer as he was, but I am going to be the voice of the Titans, that's for sure. I love being a neutral, call-it-down the middle SEC commentator on Saturdays. But on Sundays, I am the voice of the Titans, and I am very excited about representing the fan base.
"And, I'll say this," Zarzour added. "As excited as I am to call games on Sundays, representing the community and all the (Titans Radio) affiliates in the footprint, and living in Nashville and representing the Titans, that is just as exciting as calling the games to me. My wife and I are really excited about that."
