END OF AN ERA
Much-loved ESPN host who has been on network for 25 years to make last Sportscenter appearance before shock retirement
Anderson is starting a new career as a professor after his retirement
BELOVED ESPN anchor John Anderson is airing his final episode of SportsCenter on Friday night.
Anderson has sat at the SportsCenter desk for 25 years, and decided it was time to retire.
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Anderson's contract with ESPN was coming to a close, and felt that it was the perfect time to hang things up and move on.
"My contract runs out at ESPN at the end of June, and I have decided that that will be the end," Anderson said.
"I’m going to leave the company. I’m going to sort of retire from SportsCenter.
"I’m going to get to do a few track and field things, I’m going to get to continue to do the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon, which I love, and some NCAA track meets, some SEC stuff. I am incredibly excited about that.
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"It’s been a good run. The operation has changed. I don’t know that it’s passed me by, but it’s taken its toll, and I want to still be able to do the best shows I can.
"I don’t know that in years ’26 or ’27 that I have the stamina to go through it again. So I’m done… I don’t really know what’s quite next.
"I have some things in the fire, but SportsCenter will not be it anymore."
Anderson first started with ESPN in 1999 as an ESPNEWS anchor.
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He has been a staple of SportsCenter ever since, anchoring the show at various times throughout the day.
However, Anderson was best known for being the face of ESPN at 11pm.
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Fans shared their sadness for seeing Anderson leave SportsCenter on social media.
"Another legend leaving. The show just keeps downgrading slowly but surely," one fan said.
"This is the end of an era for Sportscenter," another fan said.
"Loved watching him growing up," a third fan said.
"I remember watching him on sportcenter before school as a kid, what a career!" a fourth fan said.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
Anderson will start working on the faculty at the Missouri School of Journalism in his retirement, starting in January of 2025.
He graduated from the university in 1987, and decided to join his alma mater in a new career move.
"Why wouldn’t you want to go play for the Yankees?" Anderson said.
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"That’s what Mizzou is. If you’re going to go play, why not go play for the team with all the world titles?
"I could not have thought of a better post-ESPN landing spot."
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