Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Longtime SiriusXM Host Who Followed Howard Stern From Terrestrial Radio To Satellite, Re-Ups For 3 Years

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who followed Howard Stern from terrestrial radio to satellite in a multi-million dollar deal in 2008, has re-upped for three years with SiriusXM.

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Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed in the official announcement, but Russo’s national star has risen in recent months thanks to one of his side gigs appearing on ESPN’s First Take . The former longtime personality on New York sports radio pioneer WFAN also hosts High Heat , a show on TV’s MLB Network.

Under the new agreement, Russo will continue to host his daily all-sports show, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” every weekday afternoon on Mad Dog Sports Radio, a channel launched when he first arrived at SiriusXM.

In a press release, Russo said he was “proud of what we’ve built here over these last 16 years. I love the platform and the freedom to be me and do the kind of show my audience and I enjoy.”

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The deal extends a key relationship for SiriusXM, which last year introduced a major update to its app interface and also set talent deals with Kelly Clarkson, Kevin Hart and several other notables. Stern, long the satellite radio firm’s most recognizable personality, ended months of speculation in December 2020, signing a 5-year extension reportedly worth as much as $100 million dollars a year. While Russo is not at the same financial level, he has played a comparable role for SiriusXM in the sports arena, helping it lure subscribers who had developed loyalty to a traditional radio host.

Russo was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2022. The centerpiece of his four-decade career was his 19-year run as co-host of WFAN’s “Mike and the Mad Dog” show, whose rise in the 1990s corresponded with championships for many New York sports teams. ESPN explored the impact of the show across media and popular culture in a 2017 documentary feature under its 30 for 30 banner.

“While he has inspired a lot of imitators over the years, there’ll never be anybody else on the air like Chris,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “He’s more popular and dynamic today than he has ever been and we couldn’t be more excited and proud to have him continue his legendary career on SiriusXM.”

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