Longtime ESPN anchor John Anderson retiring from ‘SportsCenter’

“SportsCenter” staple John Anderson is retiring from the program at the end of June. 

The longtime anchor on the program made the surprising announcement Wednesday on his “Inside Wisconsin” podcast. 

“My contract runs out at ESPN at the end of June and I have decided that will be the end,” Anderson said. “I’m going to leave the company. I’m going to, sort of, retire from SportsCenter.”

The 58-year-old sportscaster said he would continue to be involved with a few events for ESPN, such as the Boston and New York City Marathons and NCAA track meets.

“I feel like it’s been a good run and the operation has changed,” he continued. “I don’t know that it has passed me by but, it’s taken its toll and I still want to be able to do the best shows that I can and I don’t know in years [2026 or 2027] that I have the stamina to go through it again.” 

Anderson has been with ESPN since 1999 and has often been seen on the late edition of “SportsCenter.” 

Anderson began his career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo. with stops at KTUL-TV and KOTV in Tulsa, Okla., and KPHO-TV in Phoenix before joining the World Wide Leader. 

Anderson also served as co-host of “Wipeout” on ABC. 

He was raised in Green Bay and graduated from the University of Missouri with a journalism degree. 

“I’m done and where I go next, I don’t know that I’ll be back to Wisconsin or Missouri or Arkansas or Phoenix or South Carolina,” Anderson said. “I don’t know what’s quite next, I have some things in the fire, but SportsCenter will not be it anymore.”