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Michael Wilbon has been one of the most high-profile faces on ESPN for decades, most notably alongside Tony Kornheiser on Pardon the Interruption. But the longtime host is now stepping away.
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On Monday, Wilbon announced that he is taking an indefinite leave of absence from PTI and his NBA duties at ESPN and ABC. He said the decision comes after struggles with multiple health issues in recent months.
Wilbon and Kornheiser launched PTI in 2001, and the show has been one of ESPN’s signature programs ever since. Wilbon has also been a longtime part of ESPN and ABC’s NBA coverage throughout his time with the network.
While PTI is more of an entertainment-driven show, he’s never been shy about sharing his opinions, either. He has made headlines in the past when he insisted that Stephen A. Smith is “not a journalist” and when he threw his support behind Troy Aikman amid Aikman’s uncertain future at ESPN.
He’s become a fan favorite and one of the most recognizable faces on the network. But it sounds like he’ll be stepping away for the time being.
Wilbon made the announcement in a statement posted on X, making it clear that he isn’t retiring.
“This isn’t retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list. Hopefully not an extended one. Struggles with multiple health issues in recent months lead me to take an indefinite leave of absence from my PTI and NBA duties at ESPN and ABC,” Wilbon wrote.
He admitted that he probably should have stepped away sooner.
“Probably, I should have listened to medical professionals and people closest to me, yep Kornheiser included, who saw worrisome signs in recent years that suggested I take time away earlier. But I didn’t,” Wilbon wrote.
Wilbon also cleared up any speculation about what’s behind the leave.
“And as one close friend has said as my issues have become bigger, ‘the bill has come due.’ The struggles are all health related, not to alcohol (I’m not swearing off the now-and-then Kier Royale) and not to gambling (those winds of change I find loathsome),” he wrote.
He closed by thanking his colleagues and looking ahead to his return.
“I have loved sparring and hosting PTI with Tony every single day these past 25 years. And I’m incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement of my colleagues as I take this time away to concentrate on me, specifically on my well-being. I have no idea exactly how this part of my journey will wind up. The goal is to come out of it feeling much better than I do now and ready to return to sparring with Tony,” Wilbon wrote.
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