Remembering Louisiana Football Voice
Longtime Louisiana Football Voice and WWL Analyst Mike Detillier Dies at 65
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Before entering sports broadcasting, Detillier played fullback and linebacker at Central Lafourche High School, studied engineering at Louisiana Tech and Sacramento State, and worked as an engineer for the state of Louisiana.
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Detillier launched his NFL draft publication, Mike Detillier’s NFL Draft Report, in 1985, and his regular appearances on Buddy Diliberto’s Sports Talk program helped lead to his joining WWL as a college and professional football analyst.
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Detillier had planned to tell listeners about his cancer diagnosis after Labor Day, on what would have been his 66th birthday, before his death was announced Sunday.
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Bobby Hebert, Detillier’s longtime WWL colleague, said: “Mike was a good friend and was like a brother to me. It’s heartbreaking. This really hurts.”
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Detillier became a full-time WWL co-host in July 2021 after years as a guest analyst and a regular fixture on the station’s Monday “Second Guess Show.”
Mike Detillier, a cornerstone of Louisiana sports radio for over four decades, died Sept. 6 at 65 from metastatic pancreatic cancer. Fox 8 reported he was diagnosed with the disease less than two weeks before his death. The longtime WWL Radio analyst and host was set to share his cancer diagnosis with listeners after Labor Day, on what would have been his 66th birthday.
For more than 40 years, Detillier's voice defined Louisiana football coverage. He covered the Saints, LSU, college football, and the NFL draft through his annual guide launched in 1985. Inside Radio noted he became a full-time WWL co-host in July 2021 after years as a guest analyst. Colleagues remembered him as a trusted broadcaster and dedicated family man whose presence made gamedays unforgettable.
From Engineer to Radio Authority
Detillier's path to broadcasting was unconventional. He played fullback and linebacker at Central Lafourche High School, then studied engineering at Louisiana Tech and Sacramento State. Before joining sports radio, he worked as an engineer for the state of Louisiana. His technical background informed his methodical approach to football analysis.
His shift to broadcasting came through passion rather than career planning. Detillier launched his NFL Draft Report in 1985, becoming an authority on college players entering the professional ranks. Regular appearances on Buddy Diliberto's Sports Talk program built his reputation, eventually leading WWL to bring him on as a college and professional football analyst.
A Trusted Voice Through Saints Ups and Downs
The New Orleans Saints organization released a statement highlighting Detillier's irreplaceable role. "Gamedays, practices, and press conferences will not be the same without him," the team said. Awful Announcing noted he spent decades as one of the region's most respected football voices, covering everything from draft analysis to Saints roster moves with credibility that kept listeners coming back.
Bobby Hebert, Detillier's longtime WWL colleague, captured the depth of their bond. "Mike was a good friend and was like a brother to me," Hebert said. "It's heartbreaking. This really hurts." Their partnership on the radio defined Saints coverage for thousands of fans who tuned in daily for expert insight and genuine camaraderie.
A Brief Illness, a Lasting Legacy
The speed of Detillier's illness shocked colleagues and listeners alike. Fox 8 reported his pancreatic cancer diagnosis came just days before his death, giving him little time to prepare his audience. He had planned to announce his condition after Labor Day—marking what would have been a difficult milestone on his 66th birthday.
Saints legends and broadcasting peers mourned the loss across social media and airwaves. Audacy covered the tributes pouring in from Archie Manning and others who knew Detillier's professionalism and warmth. For four decades, he was the steady, knowledgeable voice that made Louisiana football feel personal—a friend in the booth who cared deeply about every game, every player, and every fan.
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