Preseason football has long been a playground for NFL media to stretch outside their usual roles. Mina Kimes has worked as a preseason analyst for the Los Angeles Rams, and Peter Schrager has filled that same role for the New York Jets.
It’s also a time when broadcasters cross sports, filling roles that aren’t part of their day job.
That’s where Jason Benetti comes in.
The Detroit Lions announced this week that Benetti — the TV voice of the Tigers and Fox’s No. 2 college football play-by-play man — will join their preseason television broadcast team. He’ll be paired with former Lions lineman T.J. Lang, now a familiar voice on the team’s radio broadcasts.
Thanks to the @Lions for including me this season. Pumped to work with TJ and Dannie. https://t.co/aIesQGd0O5
— Jason Benetti (@jasonbenetti) July 23, 2025
“Detroit’s sports tide is rising and lifting all boats. I saw firsthand for Westwood One radio last year on Thanksgiving the magic of a Lions home game. We’ve seen the power of the city’s fandom at Comerica Park all summer,” Benetti added in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Lions and [Detroit Lions Director of Broadcasting] Carl Moll for the opportunity to begin their season and join their wonderful crew. I’m also grateful to the Tigers for their willingness to have me cross the street for a few games in August.”
This isn’t Benetti’s first foray into the NFL. He made his debut with Fox late in the 2022 season and has continued working with Westwood One, including calling last year’s Thanksgiving matchup between the Lions and Bears. He even filled in for Joe Davis during last year’s MLB postseason, stepping into Fox’s No. 2 NFL booth alongside Greg Olsen.
And while his new Lions gig will likely overlap with his Tigers schedule — plus his MLB duties for Fox — it’s a fitting next chapter. After leaving the White Sox booth the year before last, Benetti now gets another chance to help narrate the story of his new hometown.