NBC 5 Chicago Welcomes Lou Canellis as New Sports Anchor

NBC 5 Chicago has officially announced the hiring of former Fox 32 Chicago sports anchor Lou Canellis. His first day at the station is expected to be this week, where he will contribute to late afternoon and evening newscasts from Monday to Thursday, as well as Sundays.

Canellis will be featured in the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts during the week, and on Sundays, he will anchor the 5 and 10 p.m. broadcasts, followed by “Sports Sunday” at 10:30 p.m. His arrival fills the role of the station’s full-time sports anchor, a position vacated after the dismissal of Mike Berman last week. Canellis takes over from Leila Rahimi, who departed in October 2024.

Canellis’ Vision and Background

In a press release, Sally Ramirez, senior vice president of news at NBC 5 Chicago, praised Canellis, stating, “Lou has established himself as one of the most respected and beloved voices in Chicago sports media history.” She emphasized his unmatched “knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm” and expressed excitement about his addition to the team.

Canellis expressed his enthusiasm about joining NBC 5, saying, “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.” He cited local legends such as Mark Giangreco and Tim Weigel as inspirations, calling his new role a “dream come true.” He looks forward to collaborating with established figures at NBC 5, including Allison Rosati, Stefan Holt, and Brant Miller.

Future Endeavors at NBC 5

In addition to his regular newscast duties, Canellis will co-anchor “Olympic Zone,” NBC 5’s lead-in show to the network’s prime-time coverage during the Olympics. This program is set to air at 18:30 from February 7, 2024, Monday to Saturday.

Canellis brings over 40 years of experience in sports media to his new role. He had been with Fox 32 since 2009, during which he hosted various programs, including pregame and postgame shows for the Chicago Bears. His departure leaves Cassie Carlson and Tina Nguyen as the remaining on-air sports talents at Fox 32.

The addition of Canellis to NBC 5 Chicago signals a renewed commitment to sports coverage in the region, with the station aiming to enhance its programming and engage viewers with high-quality sports journalism.