Craig Carton returning to WFAN to take over afternoon drive

Craig Carton is returning to WFAN — again.

The longtime radio star is finalizing a deal to head back to the station next month for a third run and take over the afternoon drivetime slot, The Athletic reported Tuesday.

Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber, who currently host the afternoon drive from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., will move to the midday slot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the report said.

Chris McMonigle, who hosts overnight, is a leading candidate to partner with Carton upon his return, per The Athletic, which adds that the current midday show featuring Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata will be dissolved.

Licata could potentially take the nighttime slot vacated by Keith McPherson while Tierney may be the odd man out, The Athletic reports.

Carton, 56, left WFAN two-and-a-half years ago to go to work full-time on his FS1 morning show, “The Carton Show.” That program was transformed into “Breakfast Ball,” with Carton hosting, in August 2024. It was canceled about 11 months later.

The Athletic reported when “Breakfast Ball” was canceled that Carton could return to WFAN. Licata addressed the possibility at that time on the air.

“And by the way, I’m not worried about Craigy coming back,” Licata said in July during his show with Tierney. “I told it to his face. This was years ago, whenever he came back the last time. You can come back all you want, you’re not taking my spot.”

Carton first joined WFAN in 2007, partnering with Boomer Esiason on what became a successful morning drive show.

He left in 2017 when he was arrested on fraud charges related to a ticket resale scam that he used to try to pay off his gambling debts. In April 2019, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, a stint which began two months later.

Carton was released early in June 2020, paving the way for his first return to WFAN on afternoon drive with Roberts.