Linda Cohn is retiring from ESPN on June 30 after hosting more editions of “SportsCenter” than anyone in company history.
Cohn will retire nearly 34 years to the day after joining ESPN. She hosted her first “SportsCenter” on July 11, 1992, at 2 a.m.
“When I look back, I have amazing memories of the shows I hosted, the games I reported on, the athletes I met and the outstanding colleagues I got to work with,” Cohn said in a press release distributed by ESPN. “I’ve always said I was a fan first, and I’ve always tried to keep that top of mind when I was doing SportsCenter or anything else.”
JEMELE HILL CLAIMS SHE’D HAVE A JOB SHE’S ‘UNQUALIFIED FOR’ AND A HIGHER SALARY IF SHE WERE WHITE
Cohn is one of the last remaining links to the golden era of “SportsCenter” in the 1990s, when the program was at the height of its popularity. She represented a style of sports anchor who never placed herself above the athletes, teams and games she covered.
That approach stands in stark contrast to many modern sports media personalities, who often use their platforms to promote themselves and build personal brands on social media.
For younger generations of viewers, Cohn may be best known for her appearances in ESPN’s iconic “This Is SportsCenter” commercials or for her contributions to the network’s hockey coverage.
Before entering broadcasting, Cohn played collegiate ice hockey as a goaltender at SUNY Oswego.
“But what I’m most proud of is that my career lasted long enough for me to see little girls grow up watching SportsCenter, enter this business, and succeed in it,” she continued. “If my journey helped make that path a little easier for them, then that’s the achievement I’ll cherish most.”
If you ever wanted to know what type of person Cohn is, consider that she is a foe of Keith Olbermann, the perpetually aggrieved and pathetic former ESPN and MSNBC anchor.
Earlier this year, Cohn responded after Olbermann called her a “self-obsessed politically motivated clown.”
“Amazing @KeithOlbermann that you describe me how the world actually describes you,” Cohn posted on X. “What happened to you? Gaslighting and bullying a former colleague? Is that really your thing now? It’s really sad and disappointing.”
We like her.
Overall, Linda Cohn leaves ESPN with a strong case as one of the 10 greatest “SportsCenter” anchors of all time.
“I’m grateful for every moment I had at ESPN, but I’m inspired and energized by the opportunities that lie ahead,” Cohn said. “My story is still being written.”
