Michael Wilbon signed a multiyear ESPN deal alongside Tony Kornheiser in September 2025, then celebrated Pardon the Interruption’s 25th anniversary this October. Professionally, the partnership had another chapter ahead. Privately, doctors and those closest to Wilbon, including Kornheiser, had been urging him to reconsider the pace.
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The 67-year-old announced on Monday that he is taking an indefinite leave from ESPN after months of health problems, and he was candid about it.
“This isn’t retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list,” Wilbon wrote. “Hopefully not an extended one.”
He said “struggles with multiple health issues in recent months” are behind the decision, and it covers both Pardon the Interruption and his NBA duties on ESPN and ABC. He also admitted he should have acted 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,” he wrote.
Wilbon had already spoken publicly about some of those concerns. During an October discussion about Jalen Hurts’ treatment for blood clots, he revealed that he was taking blood-thinning medication and undergoing other tests. He appeared on PTI on October 26 but missed the rest of that week’s broadcasts.
Speaking on The Tony Kornheiser Show on the morning of November 2, Wilbon explained what had kept him away.
“I was just, I mean, exhausted. Beyond exhausted, lifeless. And this has been going on for a while,” he said.
In his written statement, Wilbon also said his struggles were “all health related,” not related to alcohol or gambling, though he joked that he was not swearing off the occasional Kir Royale. A friend’s line, he added, captured it best: “the bill has come due.”
Wilbon and Smith go back about 30 years. They first crossed paths on press row, when Smith was covering the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Wilbon was a columnist at the Washington Post. Years later, they shared ESPN’s NBA desk, including on NBA Countdown, until Smith stepped away from the show last season.
It is because of this history that their public back-and-forth over the summer stood out. In August, Wilbon told the Awful Announcing Podcast that Smith isn’t a journalist anymore. “You’ve got to go to practice. You’ve got to show up. That’s journalism,” he said. But he made clear it wasn’t personal, calling Smith “like a little brother to me.”
Smith responded on his SiriusXM show and largely agreed. “Michael Wilbon’s right. I’m not a journalist anymore per se in terms of my daily responsibilities and duties,” he said, calling Wilbon “a dear friend.” Whatever the disagreement, it was between two people who clearly respect each other.
Smith has not commented on Wilbon’s leave publicly, but given their history, a response won’t come as a surprise.
Wilbon made clear that his heart is with PTI and his longtime partner.
“I have loved sparring and hosting PTI with Tony every single day these past 25 years,” Wilbon said. “The goal is to come out of it feeling much better than I do now and ready to return to sparring with Tony.”
PTI debuted on October 22, 2001, and Wilbon has been in the chair beside Kornheiser from the start. He wrote that he is grateful for the support and encouragement of his colleagues as he takes time away “to concentrate on me, specifically on my well-being.”
Wilbon and Kornheiser signed multiyear contracts with ESPN in September 2025. Now, as Wilbon steps away to address his health, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said he and his family have the network’s “full support.”
“He’s an important member of our ESPN team and widely respected by his peers, sports fans and so many others throughout our industry,” Pitaro said. “We are here for Michael every step of the way and look forward to welcoming him back whenever he is ready.”
Scott Van Pelt also shared a message of support on X, acknowledging Wilbon’s career before television. “Legendary long before he became a tv star, and he’s been that for 25+ years. Get well, my friend. We’ll hold it down in the office until you’re ready,” he wrote.
Wilbon has not set a return date. He acknowledged in his statement that he has “no idea exactly how this part of my journey will wind up,” but said his goal is to feel better and return to working alongside Kornheiser.
The leave comes shortly before another milestone for the pair. Wilbon and Kornheiser are due to receive Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in early 2027.
Wilbon’s announcement came five days after Ernie Johnson revealed on October 28 that the 2026-27 season would be his last hosting Inside the NBA, bringing his 37-season run to an end. Unlike Wilbon, Johnson plans to finish the season before stepping away.
Johnson disclosed that he had dealt with heart issues for nearly two years and undergone bypass surgery 14 months earlier. But he stressed that his departure was not on medical orders.
“I feel great, so this isn’t a case where my doctor said you need to stop working, nothing like that,” he said.
He said the experience had made him value time with his wife, Cheryl Ann, and their five grandchildren even more. He plans to continue working on March Madness and other TNT and CBS projects.
For now, Wilbon’s priority is the one he outlined: getting well and getting back to Kornheiser.