Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
ESPN's Michael Wilbon takes leave to address health issues
ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon is taking leave to address multiple health issues.
The 67-year-old will step away from the weekday show Pardon the Interruption and ESPN's NBA coverage.
His leave has no set end date, and he has not shared details about his health.
Wilbon has co-hosted PTI with Tony Kornheiser since 2001, drawing on a friendship that began when they worked together at The Washington Post.
He hopes to return feeling better and says the issues are not related to alcohol or gambling.
Temporary co-hosts will fill in on PTI, but no long-term replacements have been named.
Michael Wilbon is taking a leave of absence from ESPN to address multiple health issues.
The longtime co-host of Pardon the Interruption said he hopes to return to sparring with Tony Kornheiser.
Wilbon also plans to step away from his duties covering the NBA.
He did not give details about his condition and said the issues are not related to alcohol or gambling.
His last appearance on PTI was October 26.
- Who
- Michael Wilbon, ESPN commentator and Pardon the Interruption co-host.
- What
- He is taking a leave of absence to address multiple health issues.
- When
- He announced the leave on Monday, November 2, 2026.
- Where
- ESPN, including Pardon the Interruption and his NBA coverage.
- Why
- To address health issues he did not detail.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wilbon made his last appearance on Pardon the Interruption.
Wilbon announced he was taking a leave of absence from ESPN to address health issues.
- Age
- 67; turns 68 later in November 2026
- Show
- Pardon the Interruption
- Co-host
- Tony Kornheiser
- Last PTI appearance
- October 26, 2026
- Leave
- Indefinite, according to the Daily Mail
- Health details
- Not provided by Wilbon
4 sources
What people are saying
The goal is to come out of it feeling much better than I do now and ready to return to sparring with Tony.
I have loved sparring and hosting PTI with Tony every single day these past 25 years.
This isn’t retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list.