Ryen Russillo joins The Ringer
Russillo is teaming up with fellow Massachusetts native Bill Simmons.
Massachusetts natives Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo have been teaming up for a while for some exceptional podcasts on the former’s multimedia site The Ringer, including a hilarious recent “Rewatchables” on the Boston-centric 2010 film “The Town.”
Now the partnership has become more official with the announcement Monday, first reported by Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, that Russillo is leaving ESPN to join The Ringer full-time.
Simmons began his rise as one of the most prominent names in sports media as the Boston Sports Guy nearly 20 years ago before joining ESPN. Martha’s Vineyard native Russillo made his name as one of ESPN’s most informed and authentic radio and podcast hosts after breaking through in the Boston market on WWZN 1510 more than 15 years ago.
“I thought Ryen was one of my most talented co-workers when we worked together at ESPN, and I’ve been just as impressed these last 12 months with how easily he fit into everything we’re doing at The Ringer,” Simmons told SBJ.
Russillo, who had previously left ESPN in December 2017, re-signed with the network last August and hosted his own podcast. He also hosted the “Dual Threat” NFL podcast on The Ringer, which will now expand to three times a week during the season in his exclusive role.
“This is not an anti-ESPN move,” Russillo told SBJ. “It’s a pro-Ringer one. I have wanted to pursue other things for a while, and Bill gave me this opportunity.”
