Longtime play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien to stay on Red Sox call at NESN for at least two more years

This is a milestone season for Dave O’Brien, who is in Year 20 as a Red Sox broadcaster.

He’s locked in for at least a couple more.

O’Brien, who spent 2007-15 alongside Joe Castiglione on WEEI’s broadcasts before moving to NESN in ’16, recently signed a two-year agreement that will keep him on the television broadcasts through the 2028 season.

“A two-year agreement is perfect,” said O’Brien. “I thought, ‘I’m in my almost mid-60s now [he turned 63 early this month],’ and we had a pretty serious family health scare last year where my wife Debbie was hospitalized for about three weeks last summer.

“When she healed up, I was like, ‘I have to take more control of my life, so that we’re not looking at being apart from each other as much.’ I started to look long term about what was the right move to make, and a shorter-term deal made sense.”

O’Brien will do fewer games the next couple of seasons, though he didn’t put a number on it.

“I think it’s a great move for a broadcaster of my age,’’ he said. “It allows a deeper bench, and for someone like [current backup and ESPN broadcaster] Mike Monaco to come in and do more games. Mike is a terrific talent.”

There may be other milestone seasons in O’Brien’s future. He said he won’t necessarily walk away after the new deal is up.

“I’m going to continue to broadcast, and I may even do more years here beyond that,” he said. “But right now, at this moment in our lives, this is what we’re thinking. As much as I love broadcasting, I love my wife more, and you make a lot of decisions based on what’s best for your family.”

Woody no longer with ESPN

Former Boston College and Patriots offensive lineman Damien Woody parted ways with ESPN on Wednesday.

He was not technically part of their recent round of layoffs. Rather, his contract was not renewed and discussions about a new deal did not lead to an agreement, which is the kind of thing that tends to coincide with layoffs at a place intent on streamlining its workforce.

The affable Woody had been at ESPN since the summer of 2011, appearing on such shows as “NFL Live,” “First Take,” and “Get Up!.”

“Still processing it all but I want to thank all of my colleagues at ESPN who made it a joy to talk ball for 15 yrs,” Woody tweeted. “Being a guy who had a serious speech impediment to working on tv was truly one of my proudest accomplishments. Looking forward to what God has in store for me next!”

Watt’s time comes at CBS

After hearing CBS Sports president David Berson’s lukewarm comments at the network’s annual NFL media day regarding Tony Romo’s status, here’s a prediction I’m comfortable making: J.J. Watt will do so well alongside Jim Nantz in Romo’s absence that he will seize the job.

Not sure what that would mean for Romo, who awaits a Sept. 21 court date after being arrested July 23 in Milwaukee for suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. But the personable Watt — who called the Patriots-Steelers game in Week 3 last year and the Patriots-Bills game in Week 15, making impressive strides in the booth in between those games — is going to end up being the superior option.

Ch. 38 will be back in play

As previously noted, Ch. 38 will simulcast NESN’s broadcast of Monday and Tuesday’s Red Sox games as part of the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon.

It’s the first time the Sox will be on Ch. 38 since 2005. I checked in with NESN to ask if Sean McDonough and Bob Montgomery — the Red Sox broadcast team on Ch. 38 from 1988-95 — might make a cameo on the simulcast. A NESN spokesperson said Thursday they are “not in the plans right now.”

Too bad. It would be quite a nostalgia trip for those of us of a certain age to hear “Monty” on Ch. 38 again.

Ravech wrapping it up

Needham’s Karl Ravech, who has stayed on to call some MLB games at ESPN even after he was among the layoffs in late July, will wrap up his 33-year run at the network by calling the Little League World Series, which runs August 16-30 … In case you missed it: NFL Network and RedZone are back on Xfinity/Comcast after their carriage dispute was resolved Monday evening … Am I the only one that was surprised when the first details of the 2026-27 NBA schedule was released and Celtics-76ers wasn’t a matchup for Opening Night or Christmas Day? The Celtics aren’t part of “Rivals Week” in late January, either, and three of their four matchups with the 76ers come on or after Jan. 21. It couldn’t have been a bigger deal around here, but it sure looks like the league views the Jaylen Brown trade as a regional story … NBC Sports Boston host Michael Holley says he’s “doing great” after a scary incident Friday during which he fainted on air while filling in on Peacock’s “PFT Live.” Holley said via text Saturday that it has been determined to have been a case of dehydration. “The only damage I have is a gash on my knee from the slide to the floor,” he texted. Holley will be away from his NBCSB duties while on a previously scheduled vacation.