KJR Sports Radio adds Tacoma News Tribune's Gregg Bell to lineup, replacing Marc James

KJR Sports Radio has changed its morning lineup with a new weekday show.

Gregg Bell went live with Christopher Kidd on KJR Sports Radio Monday morning with a new weekday show, seemingly confirming Marc James' departure after reports of James' departure last week.

The Gregg Bell show with Christopher Kidd will air from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays, followed immediately by The Ian Furness Show which now starts an hour earlier.

Thrilled to be back," Bell wrote in a Monday morning X post from the studio. "Like I never left."

https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/2046287871846629571?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

Bell has covered the Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune since 2014, and Kidd is an executive producer with KJR who co-hosts the "Seahawks Man 2 Man podcast.

Bell said that he was asked to do the show last week. Despite the tight turnaround, the new addition to his schedule didn't feel too abrupt given his existing relationships at KJR, where he's been on the radio in different capacities over the past decade.

Bell and Kidd remained in touch when their time on air came to an end in early 2025. Despite the time apart, Monday's show felt natural.

"We have great rapport," Bell said of Kidd. "I value his input. He's a Seattle kid, born and raised, and a Coug. He's a little younger than I am, so that gives another perspective."

Similar to the last time he hosted a show with Kidd during the 10 month period between Jason Puckett and Jim Moore's departure and James' arrival, Bell's responsibilities at the News Tribune will remain the same.

James previously hosted a midday sports talk show on 93.3 that ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.

James and iHeartMedia have not publicly commented on the departure yet, but Bell confirmed Monday the show was a full-time, permanent addition to the schedule.

James joined Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM in February of last year. Eyes were on James early into his time with KJR last spring after he mocked Mariners broadcaster Ryan Rowland-Smith's Australian accent. He later issued an apology on air, calling his comments "reprehensible" and saying it was not a reflection of who he is.

Prior to his arrival in Seattle, James worked in various places across the county including Florida, Atlanta and Boston. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported James was fired from 92.2 The Game in 2015, though the reason was unknown. Two years later, James was suspended from his position with the New England Sports Network in Boston for a week after reports that he sent angry text messages to a woman who declined to get drinks with him.

There have been layoffs affecting management, sales and programming staff at iHeartRadio this month, including various show hosts across the nation who shared messages announcing their departure on social media platforms last week.

iHeartRadio did not respond immediately to The Seattle Times' inquiry about the reason for James' departure.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 4:53 PM.