The Tony Kornheiser experiment has come to an end, and on Kornheiser’s terms.
Newsday reports that Kornheiser, who had been a Monday Night Football analyst since the series moved to ESPN in ’06, stepped down on Monday. Kornheiser will be replaced by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden.
Kornheiser cited the intense travel schedule as his reason for leaving MNF. “My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true,” Kornheiser said, “When I looked at the upcoming schedule, it was the perfect storm that would’ve frequently moved me from the bus to the air.”
Kornheiser indicated that he plans to stay on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption “until the end of time,” and praised Gruden, his replacement. “If I could handpick a replacement of a football guy, I would cast a net and drag in Jon Gruden. He is the two things you most want — smart and funny — and has the two things I don’t — good hair and a tan.”
This is just the latest in a series of major changes in NFL broadcasting. Earlier this year, NBC Sunday Night Football analyst John Madden retired from broadcasting and was replaced with Cris Collinsworth. With his new role on NBC, Collinsworth resigned from his position as the lead analyst for NFL Network.
