Brad Galli is leaving the local airwaves.
Galli, who has been with WXYZ Channel 7 full-time for 15 years, including as sports director and sports anchor, announced on social media Friday that he will be departing the station. His last day is May 1.
Galli, in a post on X, called it “my decision,” and added, “I’m really excited for what’s next.”
Galli teased what’s next for him in his social-media announcement, and later in an interview with The News.
“I plan to stay very connected in the Detroit sports scene, doing what I love doing, and that is connecting fans with their favorite athletes, coaches and teams,” Galli told The News on Friday afternoon. “I grew up here as a fan of these teams. It’s been an honor to cover them for Channel 7, and I’m looking forward to very much staying in this Detroit sports community in a big way.”
Galli, 36, grew up in Metro Detroit, in a “home that watched Channel 7,” and graduated from Birmingham Brother Rice, and later Marquette.
He was an intern at Channel 7 while in college, and joined the station full-time in 2011, at the age of 21, after he graduated. When Tom Leyden left the station in 2015, Galli was promoted to sports anchor, and later added the title of sports director, as well.
He points out Channel 7, Detroit’s ABC affiliate, is the only full-time job he’s ever had.
Galli is a two-time winner of the Emmy in the Michigan chapter, in 2014 (when he won on his wedding day, June 14) and 2016, and he’s been nominated six other times. He’s a three-time winner of the Michigan Sportscaster of the Year, awarded by the National Sports Media Association, including in 2025.
“We thank Brad for his truly many years of service and his contributions at the station and to the Detroit community, as well,” said Mike Murri, general manager at WXYZ.
Murri said the station soon will start a search for Galli’s replacement. Alex Crescenti is the weekend sports anchor for WXYZ, having joined the station in 2024.
Galli long has been one of the most visible members of the Detroit sports-media scene on TV, because of his large presence on social media. He strives to get the one-on-one interviews with newsmakers, whether in sports or the world of entertainment. He also contributes to WXYZ’s special programming, including the North American International Auto Show and the Woodward Dream Cruise.
But with a wife and two young children, he decided now is the best time to try something new, details of which he expects to share in the coming weeks and months.
For now, he’s in reflection mode, calling the road trips he’s taken over the years some of his favorite memories, including Final Fours for Michigan and Michigan State basketball, the Lions’ NFC championship-game appearance two years ago, and Michigan’s recent national championship in football.
He also thanked his colleagues, present and former, including the late Don Shane, a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame who was the sports director who hired Galli.
Galli also thanked Murri and the leadership at WXYZ.
“It’s been a very emotional exit, in the best possible way,” said Galli, “because it’s been a relationship that’s grown over 15 years, in the best possible way.”
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Brad Galli, longtime sports anchor at WXYZ, is leaving the station
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
