‘Howard Stern Show’ segment quietly canceled after staff layoffs

The “Howard Stern Show” fantasy football league is now “defunct” after nearly two decades.

Michael Rapaport revealed the long-running segment had been quietly canceled in a Thursday podcast episode.

“It’s done,” the comedian, 56, told “I Am Rapaport” listeners while mourning “one of the greatest … [and] most famous fantasy football leagues.”

He explained, “They just can’t do it anymore.”

Howard Stern’s fantasy football league has been quietly canceled. (Pictured above: Stern on Jan. 9.) Getty Images
Michael Rapaport (pictured above on March 31) made the reveal on his podcast last week. Getty Images

Fantasy football, notably, is set to start Wednesday when the NFL’s season kicks off, with most drafts taking place in late August or early September.

Rapaport recalled, “I took that [league] from the bottom to the top, made it a viral sensation that people ask me about every single day.

“It has come to an end,” he continued amid “so much talk about” the show, which has made headlines in recent weeks for shocking staff layoffs.

“They just can’t do it anymore,” the comedian said on “I Am Rapaport.” Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
He said the “Howard Stern Show” “just can’t do it anymore.” (Pictured above: Stern in October 2019.) GC Images

When the new season of the radio show launches Sept. 14, it will have been downsized to one show per week and streamed on HBO Max — which Rapaport said it’s “not [his] place” to discuss.

“Nor do I have any information as to how that’s playing out, why that’s playing out, what that’s going to look like,” he said.

Reddit users took issue with the update, with one writing, “Another fun segment is gone.”

“I took that thing from the bottom to the top, made it a viral sensation that people ask me about every single day,” the actor (pictured above on June 20) added. Getty Images
He continued that it was “not [his] place” to discuss recent changes to Stern’s show. Kevin Mazur

Some, however, speculated that “Rapaport was told it was canceled just so” he wouldn’t be able to take part.

Stern’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The shock jock faced rampant retirement rumors last year — but signed a three-year contract with SiriusXM in December 2025.

The shock jock (pictured above in April 2018) made headlines for laying off staffers in July. Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Stern (pictured above in May 2019) will release one show a week when his new season starts next Monday. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

“I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all,” he said at the time. “More free time and continuing to be on the radio. Yes, we are coming back.”

In July, news broke that a dozen staffers were being axed from the show, with Stern subsequently dropping Channel 101 and handing it over to Andy Cohen’s “Radio Andy.”

Stern has since inked a deal with HBO Max, meaning episodes will be available to stream for the first time “along with periodic extras,” according to a press release.

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