Detroit Tigers fans were caught off guard during spring training when it was revealed that Kirk Gibson, the iconic former outfielder and longtime TV analyst, would not be returning to the broadcast booth for the 2025 season.
Initially, in February, the Tigers announced that Gibson would again be part of their television coverage on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, as he had been for the past 15 years. However, just weeks later, the team reversed course, stating that Gibson would instead transition into a special advisor role within the front office. The sudden change sparked speculation about what led to his departure from the booth.
Gibson broke his silence on the matter this week in an interview with Tony Paul of The Detroit News. When asked if he missed being on air, Gibson gave a candid response:
“I mean, I enjoyed some of it, but I didn’t fit,” he said. “All things considered, I did what was right.”
Tigers legend, longtime broadcaster Kirk Gibson hints at discord in surprising March exit
Kirk Gibson had two separate tenures as a Tigers broadcaster, beginning shortly after his playing career ended. He initially joined the booth from 1998 to 2002, working alongside Josh Lewin and later Mario Impemba. After a long break, Gibson returned in 2015, reuniting with Impemba and later teaming up with Matt Shepard.
However, after Shepard was dismissed and replaced by Jason Benetti ahead of the 2024 season, dynamics appeared to shift. In his recent interview with The Detroit News’ Tony Paul, Gibson praised his former colleagues—Lewin, Impemba, and Shepard—but noticeably left Benetti out of the conversation. That omission, along with the timing of his 2025 exit—just a year after Benetti’s arrival—raises questions about whether Gibson’s departure was as mutual as initially framed.
“Things change over time, you know?” Gibson said. “You get older, you’ve gotta change if you’re going to be partners. You’ve gotta change if you’re going to make it work. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Neither Benetti nor the Tigers offered comment, according to Paul, leaving fans to wonder what really happened behind the scenes. For now, Gibson’s departure remains clouded in uncertainty—and it’s done little to ease concerns among Tigers faithful.
