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Linda Cohn to Retire from ESPN June 2026

6/23/2026

24 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Cohn Retires

Linda Cohn will retire from ESPN on June 30, 2026, with final SportsCenter shows on June 26 at 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. ET.
She joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored the July 11, 1992 debut, hosted the 5,000th edition in 2016, and added over 650 editions thereafter.
She entered the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and will be honored with an NHL Draft tribute and Connecticut studio segments.

Summary

Cohn Shapes ESPN

After the 1 a.m. SportsCenter returned to Bristol in 2025, Cohn moved to special-project work, shaping ESPN’s content strategy.
She was among the first female national sports anchors, paving the way for women sportscasters.
Cohn called ESPN’s WNBA games and appeared in the long-running “This Is SportsCenter” ads.
Her collegiate hockey goalie background led to NHL studio spots and a live segment as an emergency goalie for the Florida Panthers.

Summary

Cohn Departs

ESPN closed its Los Angeles SportsCenter studio as part of a broader L.A. production cutback.
Employees were offered relocation to Bristol, Connecticut, or severance.
Ben Koo of Awful Announcing reported that Cohn and ESPN could not agree on a new role after her contract ends.
Cohn’s final on-air appearances are scheduled for Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

Summary

Cohn Signs Off

ESPN announced the retirement of SportsCenter anchor Cohn.
Cohn said she has always been a fan first, a principle that guided her reporting.
Cohn called Keith Olbermann’s “self-obsessed” label a personal attack on X.
Jemele Hill claimed Cohn would earn a salary and a role she was unqualified for if she were white.
Fox News listed Cohn among the ten greatest SportsCenter anchors, noting her enduring impact.

History

Historical Context

In 1982 ESPN hired Gayle Gardner, its first regular female SportsCenter anchor, beginning a gradual shift toward on-air gender diversity. The trend continued as long-time anchor Linda Cohn signed off in May 2025, marking the end of a 43-year span during which SportsCenter has aired more than 60,000 episodes. These milestones reflect the network’s ongoing pressure to broaden inclusive hiring across its flagship program.

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Cohn Retires

Linda Cohn will retire from ESPN on June 30, 2026, with final SportsCenter shows on June 26 at 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. ET.
She joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored the July 11, 1992 debut, hosted the 5,000th edition in 2016, and added over 650 editions thereafter.
She entered the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and will be honored with an NHL Draft tribute and Connecticut studio segments.

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