In August, after many agonizing nights, the voice of Bay Area sports, Greg Papa, finally stepped out to Novato’s HopMonk Tavern to reunite with his friend and singer Tim Flannery. Papa was visiting the concert to thank Flannery for his music that kept him in the fight against leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, and an episode of collapsed lungs. He had finally fought through the worst of times and hoped to return to the booth healthy, wishing to call the San Francisco 49ers’ first game in Melbourne. But plans changed quickly after that night.

Considering he is still undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation to rebuild his lung capacity and relies on supplemental oxygen, Papa had already declined to fly over 17 hours to call the Melbourne game. However, he was still set to appear in the pre-game and post-game shows. But three days before the 49ers were fighting against the LA Rams’ historic defense, Papa heard that his own battle was not yet over after all.

“49ers broadcaster Greg Papa braces for potential heart transplant,” The Mercury News’ Cam Inman shared an update after visiting Papa in the hospital.

Inman added that there is “a lotta love for Papa” and asked fans to keep rallying behind him with prayers and support after the latest setback forced him back into the hospital.

Papa, 63, has been hospitalized at UCSF with advanced heart failure since September 7, just days after securing his broadcasting comeback with a new KNBR midday show called “Lunch With Papa.” But he told The San Francisco Standard earlier that he knows exactly why this happened.

“A week after that beautiful night in Novato, I experienced another health setback. My genetic heart condition, cardiomyopathy, has greatly worsened due to the bone marrow transplant. The Advanced Heart Failure team at UCSF performed a diagnostic procedure Tuesday morning for a clearer picture of the condition of the heart.”

Papa’s health battle began before last season, when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia affecting his brain and spinal column. A bone marrow transplant in February, using a match from his sister, Judy, put the cancer into remission, but it also caused another, more dangerous issue: it collapsed both of his lungs.

He spent 78 days in the hospital, including time in an induced coma, after dealing with two collapsed lungs and pneumonia. But that was not the end of it. The transplant also worsened his genetic cardiomyopathy, diagnosed in 2023. Doctors are now looking at several ways to manage his worsening heart condition, including medication, an LVAD, or potentially a heart transplant. As it turns out, Papa is again hopeful as he continues to do what he loves.

Greg Papa is doing everything he loves, including watching the 49ers do the impossible, but had to give up one hobby

In August, Papa had mentioned that he wished to call the 49ers’ season opener, if nothing else. He was just fired by KNBR at the time but remained hopeful. As it turned out, his old buddy was unknowingly getting him through the most agonizing time of his life.

John Shea of The Standard mentioned that through his hospital stays, Papa was listening to many of Flannery’s songs. But one song stuck in his head that he kept playing over and over: “Waiting on a Miracle.”

“Flan would send me texts in the hospital, and a lot of it was music. One song in particular, ‘Waiting on a Miracle’ … this is making me cry now,” Papa told Shea. “I felt like I needed a miracle. It was a song I would listen to, as well as many others with a similar theme to try to get me through the dark nights. I didn’t sleep a lot in the ICU. You’re not sure you’re not going to die. So you stay up all night, all bug-eyed. You’re all alone. Your mind wanders. Your eyes don’t want to watch anything anymore.

“It’s music, for me, and the songs that had the lyrics that took me back in my life and the moments that were important to me when I was younger. A lot of it was Flan. It was waiting on a miracle.”

The song is the title track of Flannery’s latest album, which delivers the emotions he was going through during and after a near-death experience in 2020. That is what made Papa resonate with those words, as he felt the pain behind Flannery’s voice. It was his saving grace. However, it is no longer Papa’s sweet escape from reality.

Given that he is going through a heart condition, Papa has stopped listening to any music, as it excites his heart more than it can take. Instead, he has picked up another way to fill his days: America’s favorite pastime.

He watched the 49ers take on the Rams and send them back home empty-handed in a lopsided but surprising win. He is also listening to classic radio broadcasts, including his favorite, Red Barber. Meanwhile, he had just found out that he was back at KNBR after his exit lasted only five weeks, only to see him miss the opportunity again.

Papa had returned to his booth, but was stopped by his “unfair” condition

Papa was initially let go by KNBR amid his fight with cancer. He told The San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch how the disease was “unfair,” and how it affected him physically, mentally, and financially. Not having a job to come back to is tough news to deal with for anybody.

He was rehired on September 10, after also landing a role in NBC Sports Bay Area as a studio analyst for the opener against the Los Angeles Rams. However, he will now have to pause these plans once again.

Greg Papa has catered to the Warriors, the A’s, the Giants, the Raiders, and the 49ers, a résumé longtime KNBR host Brian Murphy summed up plainly when Papa first revealed his cancer diagnosis last year.

“Greg is not just our teammate at The Sports Leader, he’s one of the most iconic play-by-play men in the history of our beloved Bay Area. Nobody else has done the Warriors, Raiders, Giants, A’s and 49ers like Greg, so he has a unique gift of connecting with our audience across the board.”

That connection was built over decades on the air, starting with the Warriors in 1986, moving through two decades as the beloved radio voice of the Raiders, where his signature call of “TOUCHDOWN, RRRRAID-ERS!!!” became part of franchise lore, before he took over the 49ers’ booth in 2019 with his own version, “TOUCHDOWN, SAN-FRAN-CISCO!” Along the way, he earned three California Sportscaster of the Year awards and a spot in the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.

Papa’s steadiness under pressure became national news in 2006, when fellow broadcaster Dave Flemming’s microphone suddenly went dead for ten seconds during Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 715th home run. Papa smoothly picked up the call without missing a beat.

That trust, built over decades, explains the outpouring of support since his hospitalization became public.

Fans pour love and prayers for Greg Papa’s healthy return

“As a relative of a one-time transplant survivor, I have great empathy for the family,” one comment read. “You are stuck between hope, realism and worry. Prayers up for him and everyone in his family.”

“We’re all rooting for Papa. Love that you got his Niners analysis in this, Cam. Greg’s one of the best at discerning keys to the game and spotting nuanced strengths and weaknesses with the team,” another user shared.

Others also sent in their prayers.

“Prayers for papa!! 🙏🙏 May he get well soon!”

“Hang in there Papa, the Bay is with you.”

“Oh 😭 😢 May the lord bless our Papa 🤲 🙏🏼”

With Papa away from the booth, broadcaster Guy Haberman has joined longtime analyst Tim Ryan for 49ers Radio Network duties. Meanwhile, Papa’s “Lunch With Papa” show and his planned NBC Sports Bay Area appearances remain on hold.

A GoFundMe link established by the David Benzer Strike Out Fear Foundation is also helping with Papa’s medical and recovery expenses. For now, doctors are continuing to work on his condition, while fans across the Bay Area wait for updates on the broadcaster who has spent years calling 49ers football. Meanwhile, he has only one message to everyone:

“I’m looking for a miracle.”