ESPN’s Linda Cohn to retire after 34 years as longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor
Cohn, who has hosted more than 5,500 episodes since 1992, cites her role in paving the way for women in sports media as her proudest achievement
Linda Cohn has announced her retirement from ESPN, concluding a 34-year tenure that saw her become the longest-serving anchor in the history of SportsCenter. The veteran broadcaster revealed her decision on Monday, marking the end of an era for the network that has been synonymous with her name since she anchored her first episode in 1992.
Cohn has hosted more than 5,500 episodes of the flagship programme, a record for the show. Her final broadcasts are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. ET, with her official retirement date set for June 30. She is widely recognised as one of the first women to take on full-time hosting duties at the network, establishing herself as a trailblazer for women in sports broadcasting.
In a statement regarding her departure, Cohn emphasised the impact of her career on future generations. She stated that she is most proud of her role in helping girls and young women enter the industry, noting that seeing those who watched her grow up to succeed in the business is her greatest achievement.
Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, issued a statement praising Cohn’s contributions to the network. He described her as a legend who has brought enthusiasm, personality, and a love of sports to the audience for more than 30 years, adding that her work both in front of and behind the camera has been significant.
Cohn’s career began as a radio news anchor, writer, and sports reporter on Long Island. A former college hockey player at Oswego State University, she expanded her role at ESPN beyond SportsCenter to contribute to NHL coverage and provide play-by-play commentary for WNBA games. She was inducted into the National Sports Media Hall of Fame in 2017.
