Bill Simmons To Leave ESPN
(CBS) Media mogul Bill Simmons is leaving ESPN when his contract expires this fall, the company announced Friday morning.
"I decided today that we are not going to renew Bill Simmons' contract," ESPN president John Skipper said in a statement. "We have been in negotiations and it was clear it was time to move on. ESPN's relationship with Bill has been mutually beneficial - he has produced great content for us for many years and ESPN has provided him many new opportunities to spread his wings. We wish Bill continued success as he plans his next chapter. ESPN remains committed to Grantland and we have a strong team in place."
Simmons is one of the most popular sports media personalities in the world and is the founder of Grantland.com, a sports and entertainment site backed by ESPN. It will continue on even after Simmons' exit, according to reports.
Simmons writes, has his own podcast and has made regular television appearances on ESPN platforms. He was also influential in creating ESPN's highly praised "30 for 30" documentary series, for which he's an executive producer.
Simmons and ESPN have had their share of conflicts through his 15-year tenure with the company, often over creative freedom. Most recently, Simmons was suspended last September for three weeks for criticizing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.