San Francisco 49ers broadcaster Greg Papa has returned to the hospital as he battles advanced heart failure following a prolonged series of serious health problems.
Papa, 63, was hospitalized Sept. 7 and underwent a diagnostic procedure Tuesday as doctors at the University of California, San Francisco, worked to assess the condition of his heart.
The longtime Bay Area broadcaster said a genetic heart condition known as cardiomyopathy has significantly worsened following treatment for leukemia.
“My genetic heart condition Cardiomyopathy has greatly worsened due to the bone marrow transplant,” Papa told The San Francisco Standard.
Papa said UCSF’s advanced heart failure team performed the procedure to obtain a clearer picture of his heart and determine the next steps in his treatment.
“All of your love and support has greatly helped us get past the many health obstacles we have faced,” Papa said. “Together we will get past the next challenge.”
The latest hospitalization came after fans noticed Papa was absent from a planned return to the 49ers’ pregame and postgame coverage.
Papa was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2025, beginning an extensive medical battle that kept him away from broadcasting for most of the NFL season.
He eventually returned for San Francisco’s final regular-season game and later reached a new agreement with KNBR that was expected to bring him back to the air more regularly.
His recovery, however, has included several major setbacks.
Papa previously spent 78 days in intensive care after both of his lungs collapsed. He spent approximately one week on a ventilator before eventually being discharged July 11.
The broadcaster later described how serious his condition had become, saying doctors told him that many patients would not have survived what he experienced.
“My doctors told me that 95% of people would have died from what I went through,” Papa said.
He recalled doctors warning him during his hospitalization that they did not know whether he would be able to leave the hospital.
Despite those concerns, Papa characterized his subsequent recovery as remarkable and remained hopeful that he could eventually return to the broadcast booth.
Papa has spent decades covering professional sports in Northern California and is currently best known as the radio play-by-play voice of the 49ers.
His broadcasting career has also included extensive work covering the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors and other Bay Area teams.
The latest medical setback has again put his broadcasting schedule on hold while doctors evaluate the severity of his heart condition.
Cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle and can make it more difficult for the organ to pump blood effectively. In Papa’s case, he said the condition was genetic but became substantially worse following his bone marrow transplant, according to Trending Politics.
For now, Papa remains under the care of UCSF’s advanced heart failure specialists as they determine the appropriate course of treatment.
The 49ers broadcaster has continued thanking fans and colleagues for their support throughout his leukemia treatment and subsequent complications.
