NBC 5 Chicago Welcomes Lou Canellis as New Sports Anchor

NBC 5 Chicago has officially hired former Fox 32 Chicago sports anchor Lou Canellis, marking a significant shift in its sports broadcasting team. Canellis will begin his new role on Monday, February 7, 2024, appearing in the late afternoon and evening newscasts from Monday to Thursday, as well as on Sundays, where he will host the program “Sports Sunday.”

Canellis is set to feature in the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts during the week, alongside the Sunday broadcasts at 5 and 10 p.m., culminating in “Sports Sunday” at 10:30 p.m. His arrival follows the dismissal of Mike Berman last week, making him NBC 5’s only full-time sports anchor. He replaces Leila Rahimi, who departed in October 2024. Currently, Jeff Blanzy and Kacy Standohar provide sports coverage on a per-diem basis.

In a press release, Sally Ramirez, NBC 5 Chicago’s senior vice president of news, expressed enthusiasm about Canellis joining the team. “Lou has established himself as one of the most respected and beloved voices in Chicago sports media history,” she stated. “His knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm are second to none, and we couldn’t be happier to have him join our team of all-stars at NBC 5.”

Canellis, who grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois, shared his excitement about the opportunity, describing it as a dream come true. “As a Chicago kid who grew up in Oak Lawn, I told my dad my dream was to be a household name in my hometown — to be the next Mark Giangreco, Tim Weigel, or Johnny Morris,” he remarked. He emphasized the honor of joining a team that includes Chicago TV legends such as Allison Rosati, Stefan Holt, Brant Miller, and Chuck Goudie.

In addition to his anchoring duties, Canellis will co-anchor “Olympic Zone,” NBC 5’s lead-in show for the network’s prime-time Olympic coverage. This program will air at 6:30 p.m. from February 7, Monday through Saturday. Canellis has over four decades of experience in sports media, having been with Fox 32 since 2009. His tenure there included anchoring and hosting various programs, such as the Bears pregame and postgame shows, and “1st & North,” which featured discussions about the NFC North.

His move leaves Cassie Carlson and Tina Nguyen as the remaining on-air sports talent at Fox 32. Canellis’s transition to NBC 5 marks a pivotal moment in Chicago sports broadcasting, as he aims to bring his loyalty to local teams and passion for journalism to his new role. The Chicago sports community looks forward to what he will bring to NBC 5 in the coming weeks.