Chris Christie May Replace Sports Radio Legend Mike Francesa

Chris Christie, the controversial governor of New Jersey, may be headed for a job in sports radio in 2018.

Christie will fill in for legendary WFAN host Mike Francesa on Monday and Tuesday in the afternoon. The guest appearance is being billed as an audition for the job Francesa will be vacating in December after talking about New York sports for the past 28 years in the time slot.

Francesa recently spoke about the possibility and the potential upside of Christie filling the void Francesa is soon to leave.

“Listen, if he really wants to do it, he’s a name, he seems to like sports talk,” Francesa told EW. “Now he’ll find out there’s a difference between sitting in once every six months and doing it every day. It’s a whole different dynamic. It really is. You’ve got to do a lot of work if you’re going to be there every day.”

Francesa continued with the pros of a Christie replacement. “Clearly, he can communicate. He also doesn’t mind a fight. And he already is a brand, so he brings some dynamic.”

Francesa’s claim to fame comes from his time working with fellow radio personality Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo on their show Mike and the Mad Dog. Their show and relationship is the subject of the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary of the same name. Francesa currently hosts Mike’d Up, which is simulcast across the country by Fox Sports 1.

Although Francesa was quick to point out Christie’s positives, he was also sure to point out the New Jersey governor’s flaws.

“You can also talk about how he’s got a lot of negatives and he’s not very popular in the state right now. He’s got some baggage. He brings some good, he brings some bad. I would think the guy’s a governor of a state – he’s going to be a candidate if he wants to be a candidate.”

Christie’s term as New Jersey governor will end in January of 2018 and he has mentioned in the past that he plans on returning to the private sector.

The former candidate for president had an abysmal 15 percent approval rating within his home state before a public relations disaster hit the papers during the July Fourth weekend – Christie, having closed down several public beaches as part of a government shut down, was photographed lounging on one of the closed areas with friends and family.

Christie’s spokesman Brian Murray made a statement about the radio appearances, convincing constituents that Christie is still on the job as governor.

“The governor enjoys the opportunity to talk about sports on WFAN and is happy to have the chance to do that with Evan Ropers for eight hours next week over two shows,” said Murray. “Despite those eight hours, as always, he will be one the job as governor. As for the governor’s future, he appreciates the interest and concern about his next employment from his friends in the media, but he is not concerned at all about it.”