Notable departures from ESPN

FILE - In this May 6, 2014 file photo, Bill Simmons arrives at the world premiere of "Million Dollar Arm" at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. HBO says it has struck a multi-year, multi-platform deal with the multi-faceted Bill Simmons. Under the deal, which begins in October, HBO will be Simmons exclusive television home, the network said Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) Chris Pizzello

By Legacy User

August 20, 2015

3 minutes to read

Bill Simmons stopped contributing to ESPN’s Grantland in May 2014 after he and ESPN’s John Skipper failed to agree to terms. On July 22, 2015, Simmons announced he would be joining HBO to host a weekly TV show.
Sports and political commenter Keith Olbermann left ESPN in 1997 for NBC Sports and MSNBC. ESPN announced he would again be leaving in July 2015. Olbermann has not announced what he will do when his contract expires on July 31, 2015.
Colin Cowherd was the host of “The Herd’’ on ESPN Radio and the co-host of SportsNation on ESPN 2. In July 2015, he announced he would be leaving ESPN. He is reported to be taking a position with Fox Sports 1.
CNN sports correspondent, reporter for CNN International, and reporter for Turner Sports, Rachel Nichols works on NBA, MLB and NCAA March Madness broadcasts on TNT, TBS, and CBS. She was a nine-year veteran of ESPN when she left in January 2013.
Former College GameDay co-host on ESPN, Erin Andrews moved to FOX College Football for Fox Sports in June 2012. Andrew is the sideline reporter on Fox’s lead NFL broadcasting crew, and she is also the co-host for “Dancing with the Stars.’’
Michelle Beadle’s time hosting SportsNation sandwiched a short stint with NBC Sports Network. In May 2012, she left ESPN and eventually was the sole host of “The Crossover,’’ which was cancelled in 2013. She returned to ESPN in March 2014.
Doug Gottlieb hosted ESPN Radio’s “GameNight’’ and “The Pulse,’’ and he was an analyst on ESPN’s college basketball broadcasts. In July 2012, he left ESPN for CBS to host a radio show and help with college basketball coverage and March Madness.
“Jim Rome is Burning’’ came to an end after Jim Rome moved from ESPN to CBS Sports Network in January 2012. The ESPN veteran had been with with the network since its launch in 1993. He hosts “The Jim Rome Show’’ on CBS Sports Radio.
After 18 years with ESPN as a SportsCenter and radio show host, Dan Patrick left ESPN in August 2007. “Sports Illustrated’’ named him senior writer in October 2007. He joined Olbermann on NBC Sports’ “Football Night in America’’ in 2008, and the “Dan Patrick Show’’ aired on NBC Sports Network in November 2012.
The columnist played a major role in ESPN’s broadcast coverage of college basketball and football. In October 2011, Pat Forde’s contract with ESPN expired, and he departed from Yahoo! Sports.
Former second baseman Harold Reynolds became a baseball commentator after his playing career. His time at ESPN ended after he was accused of a pattern of sexual harassment. He has worked for MLB Network since its launch in 2009.
In 2003, Rich Eisen left his position with ESPN and ESPN Radio to be the first on-air talent at NFL Network, which debuted in November 2004. He re-signed with the network in 2010 and hosts “NFL GameDay Morning.’’
After leaving ESPN after the 2010-11 NFL season, Michele Tafoya joined NBC Sports as a sideline reporter on NBC Sunday Night Football.
The original host of “The Daily Show,’’ Craig Kilborn anchored ESPN’s SportsCenter for four years. He left ESPN in 1996 but made a return appearance to co-host “SportsCenter’’ with Dan Patrick on August 8, 2004. He also hosted “The Late Late Show’’ from 1999 to 2004.
Peter Gammons spent 20 years with ESPN working in print, digital media, television, and radio. In December 2009, he decided to leave for MLB Network and MLB.com, where he remains. He is also an analyst and reporter with NESN.
Bill Raftery served as an analyst for Big East games with ESPN. He currently calls college basketball games for CBS and Turner.