Viewers can expect to see a lot less of Chris Berman next year.
Citing multiple sources, The Big Lead reported Thursday that ESPN lifer Chris Berman will retire from the network when his contract expires at the end of the NFL season. Later in the night, Sports Illustrated reported that Berman would leave his current positions as host of ESPN’s NFL studio shows and NFL Draft coverage, but possibly remain with the network in a reduced role.
Berman’s agent told The New York Times late Thursday that his client had no intention of retiring and that reports otherwise could be the product of “people with an agenda.” The agent did not address the possibility broached by Sports Illustrated, that Berman would take on a much reduced role without fully retiring.
Berman has been with ESPN since its first year since 1979, serving as a SportsCenter anchor, host of Sunday NFL Countdown, and play-by-play voice on both Monday Night Football and Major League Baseball.
Though it has become almost cliche to talk of an ESPN exodus, the network has lost numerous on-air personalities of late. This year alone, Mike Tirico, Robert Flores and Chris Spielman have headed for the exits, with Heather Cox reported to be on her way out as well. Berman’s potential exit may be the biggest of all, given his prominence on the network for more than three decades.
According to the original report in The Big Lead, ESPN is planning to throw Berman a “lavish” send-off comparable to Lakers G Kobe Bryant‘s season-long farewell to the NBA.
(Thu. news from The Big Lead, SI.com, Richard Sandomir/Twitter [1], [2])
