Some of the choicest gigs in TV sports are up for grabs now that Chris Berman and ESPN announced Thursday he's stepping down from his lead anchor roles on ESPN's NFL studio programming, the NFL Draft and MLB Home Run Derby after Super Bowl LI.
After signing a multiyear contract extension, Berman will stay with ESPN — but in a reduced "emeritus"-type role. Berman plans to spend more time at his vacation home in Maui.
Berman had a 31-year run on "Sunday NFL Countdown." That's an eternity in TV land. Yet while it feels like he's been on our TV screens forever, the 61-year old Berman is actually three years younger than NBC's Bob Costas (64) and four years younger than Fox's Skip Bayless (65).