Fans Rally Around Pat Caputo After Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis

Sports columnist Pat Caputo has been a fixture of the sports world in Detroit since many of us have been alive. Sadly, the WXYT–FM (97.1 The Ticket) radio host has announced that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

For many years, Pat has been a part of 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit talking about all things Michigan sports-related on his show Evening Sports.

As a kid growing up on the east side of Michigan, I read his columns in the Oakland Press, which he was a part of from 1983 until 2020. It’s easy to say that he is the most recognized sports columnist in the area.

Sadly, on Monday, January 5, after being absent for almost 2 months on social media, he announced his diagnosis, for what she says there is no coming back from:

For those wondering where I’ve been: I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, commonly referred to as a “death sentence” and had two other serious ailments which put me in ICU for several days. It was sudden. I’ve literally been on my back for weeks. Bless you all.

I remember my first day as a radio DJ and producer while working at the Ticket's sister station in Detroit back in 2017.

I was in the kitchen, grabbing some tea, when in strolled Pat and just kind of gave me a head nod and said, “Hey, how’s it goin’ man?”

Here’s a guy I’ve been following basically since childhood through the newspaper and on air, and he was so kind to a very green radio personality, and always was during my time there until 2017.

I believe Pat has always been like that, very approachable and very kind to be around. Every time I saw him in the halls or in the kitchen, we would briefly catch up, and he was just a very natural person to be around. Our thoughts are with Pat and his family during this time.