ESPN veteran Chris Berman might retire after the upcoming NFL season, but not according to his agent.
The Big Lead reported Thursday that Berman, who has been with ESPN since 1979, is expected to retire when his current contract expires. However, his agent told The New York Times the report isn’t accurate.
“Chris is NOT retiring. Loves what he’s doing too much and is too young to hang ’em up,” Berman’s agent Lou Oppenheim told the Times. “Perhaps people with an agenda put it out there.”
ESPN declined TheWrap’s request for comment.
Chris Berman's agent denies retirement report:"Chris is NOT retiring. Loves what he's doing too much and is too young to hang 'em up."
— Richard Sandomir (@RichSandomir) May 27, 2016
Berman's agent adds, on retirement report: "Perhaps people with an agenda put it out there."
— Richard Sandomir (@RichSandomir) May 27, 2016
Anyone who reads between the lines could assume that Berman, 61, will not be renewed to host “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “Monday Night Countdown” on a regular basis, but might appear on the network on occasion because he’s not ready to officially retire.
Sports Illustrated media columnist Richard Deutsch, who is typically as plugged into ESPN news as anyone outside of its Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters, is taking The Big Lead’s report and running with it, posting a story headlined: “Chris Berman to leave longtime ESPN gigs at end of 2016 NFL season.”
Sports Illustrated mentions Oppenheim’s rebuttal but goes on to discuss who will replace the ESPN legend.
Berman is one of the most prominent sportscasters in history and joined ESPN a month after it launched. He’s ESPN royalty and, if true, his departure would be the latest high-profile exit from the network that has recently said goodbye to Bill Simmons, Skip Bayless, Mike Tirico, Keith Olbermann, Colin Cowherd and Jason Whitlock.