ESPN Veteran Chris Berman's Agent Shoots Down Retirement Reports

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.”

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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.”

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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.

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Skip Bayless' time as ESPN's most controversial pundit is almost at an end, and the network is searching for someone to replace him on "First Take." Many ESPN personalities have been bandied about as a potential replacement, with some more likely to take up the job than others.
ESPN
ESPN commentator Jemele Hill is currently featured alongside Michael Smith on the talk show "His & Hers." She pulled out of the contender pool for Bayless' spot on Twitter, saying that moving to "First Take" would be "not a promotion for me."
ESPN
ESPN radio host and "Highly Questionable" star Bomani Jones also publicly declined interest in the job, saying that he lives in Miami and would not move to New York to do "First Take."
ESPN
Another ESPN pundit, Max Kellerman, has the argumentative style to do well on "First Take," but is currently involved with the TV show "SportsNation" and the radio show "Max & Marcellus" in Los Angeles. A move to "First Take" would require a major shift in ESPN's L.A. talent structure.
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Jon "Stugotz" Weiner, co-star of "The Dan Le Batard" show, has jokingly complained that ESPN hasn't called him with an offer for the "First Take" job.
ESPN
In 2015, ESPN hired controversial conservative political commentator Will Cain, who quickly became a guest host on "First Take." Prior to joining the network, Cain served as a columnist on Glenn Beck's website, TheBlaze.
ESPN
ESPN may consider pulling a replacement from the panelist list for their afternoon pundit show, "Around The Horn." Columnists like Pablo S. Torre and Frank Isola have experience debate sports topics on TV and could react well to Stephen A. Smith's rants.
ESPN
A more likely candidate is Ryan Ruocco, Stephen A. Smith's former radio co-host. Ruocco and Smith already have a strong chemistry together and experience debating each other, which would allow for an easy transition for the show.
ESPN
ESPN could also consider using a guest-host format, as the network did before Smith joined "First Take." The format could allow the network to bring in analysts who could promote upcoming broadcasts, such as ESPN's summer soccer coverage.
ESPN
Danny Kanell, co-host of "Russillo and Kanell," is a former NFL quarterback who has attracted controversy for his hot takes on targets like Bryce Harper and SEC football. His polarizing reputation would be perfect for "First Take."
ESPN

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There’s a long list of ESPN talking heads who could replace Skip Bayless on the morning debate show

Skip Bayless' time as ESPN's most controversial pundit is almost at an end, and the network is searching for someone to replace him on "First Take." Many ESPN personalities have been bandied about as a potential replacement, with some more likely to take up the job than others.

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