Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey set to return to broadcast booth after two-month absence

Jacob Tobey will resume his role as the San Antonio Spurs’ television play-by-play announcer, ending an absence of nearly two months that began after a social media controversy made national headlines.

Tobey confirmed his return in a Friday afternoon social media post, expressing gratitude to the organization for granting him time away to handle personal matters. The team separately confirmed the move to the San Antonio Express-News.

Writing on social media, Tobey acknowledged that rebuilding relationships will take effort. “I understand that I will have to regain trust within the organization and across our community,” he wrote, adding that he remains committed to the San Antonio area with “enthusiasm and passion.” He described his position as “the best job in the world.”

The 38-year-old broadcaster stepped away in early July after his girlfriend publicly accused him of infidelity in a post made from his own Instagram account, which was later deleted. Screenshots spread rapidly online. Front Office Sports reported on July 9 that Tobey was no longer employed by the organization. Spurs Sports & Entertainment declined to comment at the time, and the club also did not respond when asked in August whether the play-by-play job was open — leaving unclear who would call games during his absence.

Tobey’s exit came less than a month after he announced a multiyear contract extension with the Spurs, capping a strong season in which San Antonio went 62-20 and reached the NBA Finals.

He joined the franchise in October 2024, succeeding Bill Land, who retired after 21 seasons behind the microphone. Tobey has worked alongside analyst and former Spurs forward Sean Elliott. Before arriving in San Antonio, the Massachusetts native and Suffolk University graduate served as a sports anchor and reporter in Tulsa and Denver and called games for Fox Corporation‘s Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network. Fox shares closed at $67.75 previously and traded at $65.42 on Friday, down 3.44%, valuing the entertainment company at roughly $27.7 billion.

During his two seasons with the team, Tobey became active locally. A member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, he performed the national anthem at the Spurs’ Native American Heritage Night in April and again during the playoffs. Neither he nor the organization addressed the circumstances of his departure publicly until Friday’s post, his first acknowledgment that he had stepped away.

What to watch

• Whether the Spurs confirm Tobey’s role and any conditions around his return before the upcoming season begins.
• Announcements about the broadcast lineup, including his continued pairing with analyst Sean Elliott.
• Any further public statements from Tobey or Spurs Sports & Entertainment regarding the July departure.
• The team’s preseason broadcast schedule, which will show whether Tobey is back on air immediately.

Source: original release