Eli Gold: 'I am not retiring' after Crimson Tide Sports Network chose not to renew his contract

After 35 years as the Voice of the Crimson Tide, Eli Gold will not be returning to the Alabama broadcast booth in 2024. The Crimson Tide Sports Network announced he would not be back next season, and he said it’s because his contract wasn’t renewed.

Gold confirmed the reason for his departure in an interview with AL.com’s Michael Casagrande, but made it clear he’s not leaving broadcasting entirely. He also made it clear he’s not leaving because of health reasons considering he missed the 2022 season due to ongoing treatment for Type B Lymphoma.

“Well, the university has chosen not to bring me back,” Gold told AL.com. “This is not, with a capital N-O-T, not at all health related. I am very healthy. Everything is wonderful. I am healthy as a horse.”

Chris Stewart – the voice of Alabama men’s basketball – will succeed Gold in the football booth. He previously handled football play-by-play duties in 2022 and hosted Hey Coach and The Nick Saban Show every Thursday night as Gold underwent treatment for cancer. In 2023, Stewart did road games while Gold was behind the microphone for home games.

Stewart’s first broadcast will be the A-Day Spring Game, although Gold said the initial plan was for him to do that game before assessing his contract situation. Instead, the university decided to move on now.

“I was originally told that I was going to do A-Day and they have now reconsidered on that,” Gold said, “and they’re just going to make a clean break. But they will honor their contract through the end of June.”

Gold was also a staple of Hey Coach on Thursdays, speaking with Alabama’s head coach ahead of Saturday’s matchup. He and Saban developed a unique relationship, and his return was celebrated last year after he beat cancer.

However, after 36 years of working on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, Gold will pass the microphone on to Stewart full-time.

“Eli has been an invaluable member of our broadcast team,” Jim Carabin, Vice President and General Manager of the Crimson Tide Sports Network, said in a statement regarding Gold’s departure. “We are grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in this next chapter. CTSN is fortunate to have someone as part of our existing broadcast team in Chris to step up and seamlessly transition into this role.”

With Gold’s departure, along with Saban’s retirement, it will be an entirely new era for Alabama football when A-Day comes around on April 13.