Reports: ‘SportsCenter’ Anchor Neil Everett Leaving ESPN Amid Network’s Layoffs
Another recognizable personality is departing ESPN as the network continues to suffer from budget cuts. It’s Neil Everett this time!
Reports: ‘SportsCenter’ Anchor Neil Everett Leaving ESPN Amid Network’s Layoffs
According to Front Office Sports, Neil Everett is departing ESPN after more than 20 years with the network.
After 15 years of working with various affiliates, Everett joined ESPN in 2000. Everett began his radio broadcasting career in 1984 at KCST-FM in Florence, Oregon, following his graduation from Oregon.
Neil Everett and Stan Verrett. Top 5 SportsCenter Anchor duo of all time. https://t.co/Ap88wNTzaI pic.twitter.com/6ygd3QVE7r
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) June 8, 2023
Everett spent 15 years as the athletic director at Hawaii Pacific University after quitting television. He began working at KITV-TV in Honolulu while still at HPU, where he had a variety of positions before eventually rising to the position of sports anchor.
After 23 years at ESPN, SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett informed Front Office Sports that it is “last call” for him. Everett and Stan Verrett have been co-hosting SportsCenter’s late edition from Los Angeles since 2009.
Report: Long-time Sportscenter broadcaster Neil Everett is leaving after 23 Years due downsizing of ESPN’s on-air talent, per @FOS
Everett: “Bartender…last call,”
“ESPN changed my life, but now it’s time for me to change my life. Time to write a new chapter.”… pic.twitter.com/w3nXXaZXz3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 8, 2023
It was time for him to have a greater direct influence on his life, the 23-year ESPN veteran SportsCenter host told FOS.
As an anchor for ESPNews, Everett originally worked for ESPN in 2000. He later relocated to Los Angeles in March 2009 to work as an anchor for the L.A. edition of the network’s flagship show.
One of my favorite SportsCenter commercials ever, Neil Everett and Roger Federer.
'I'm in the top 10, Roger' pic.twitter.com/sGZbU1sed8
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 8, 2023
Everett is renowned for calling out home runs with “Bartender, Jack” and making musical allusions. He has also appeared alongside other actors in the network’s parody “This is SportsCenter” advertisements.
“ESPN changed my life, but now it’s time for me to change my life,” he said in a statement to FOS. “Time to write a new chapter.”
I'll always appreciate how Neil Everett made the whole SportsCenter staff feel a part of the show, like back in 2016 when he did this lede on my Gramps Earl being at the Cubs' last World Series game before winning it all that year. pic.twitter.com/PzsOekEaCk
— Michael Schwartz (@SchwartzCenterM) June 9, 2023
According to Front Office Sports, he received a deal that included a wage decrease, much like the one that Kenny Mayne turned down in 2021. However, a representative for ESPN told USA TODAY Sports that his contract was not extended.
Everett’s departure is a result of ESPN’s recent request for network downsizing. According to FOS, Disney CEO Bob Iger intends to reduce 7,000 positions and $5.5 billion in costs throughout the whole organization.
NEWS: SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett is leaving ESPN.
The 23-year network veteran is the latest to see his deal expire during Disney’s on-air talent cuts, a source told FOS.
"ESPN changed my life, but now it's time for me to change my life.”
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 8, 2023
Everett’s resignation has not yet been addressed by ESPN.
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