Former NY Giant Carl Banks Resigns from WFAN After Heated Exchange With Hosts About Current Player Kayvon Thibodeaux
Retired NFL player Carl Banks has resigned from his weekly appearance on WFAN after getting into a tense back-and-forth with hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata.
On Oct. 25, Banks joined the show to discuss the New York Giants’ recent performance. Tierney and Licata took issue with Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, but Banks pushed back and asserted he’s played well. Banks then accused the two of looking for negatives and claimed it was “unhealthy” for the fanbase.
Tierney and Licata took exception to Banks’ comments and argued that they have a right to criticize players. Neither side relented, and Licata grew so frustrated that he instructed a producer to abruptly end the call with the two-time Super Bowl champion.
New York reporter Gary Meyers reported that Banks felt “completely disrespected” by Tierney and Licata.
Breaking news: @CarlBanksGIII told me he has resigned from his weekly Wednesday spot on @WFAN660. Banks was completely disrespected last week by hosts/fans Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata of the @BTandSal show when they hung up on him after a conversation about LB Kayvon…
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) November 1, 2023
During the duo’s Wednesday show, Tierney and Licata informed listeners that Banks had resigned.
“Usually in this spot, we have Carl Banks on,” Licata said on the air. “Last week, we had a testy debate with Carl. Right on the air afterwards, I came on and apologized for the way that it ended, kind of cutting the call short there after 20 minutes.
“I also called him during the week and also apologized. He said all was good. But Carl just doesn’t want to do the spot anymore, so we move on.”
According to The New York Post, sources claimed management attempted to clear the air with Banks, but “his mind was made up.”
Tierney said he also spoke with Banks after the viral exchange.
“I was sitting at home,” he said. “We chatted for about 15 minutes. I wanted to reiterate that I’ve known him for a long time. I don’t like the perception, certainly for me as a person, us as a show, that we’re ever in the business of doing good people wrong. That’s not our M.O. Carl’s a great guy. He’s been a part of the station for a long time. It’s not gonna continue for us, and we respect that.”
