Michael Wilbon is stepping away from ESPN for an unspecified period to deal with what he called “multiple health issues,” and he says it is not a retirement. The 67-year-old co-host of “Pardon the Interruption” announced the leave on Monday, Nov. 2, and it covers both his PTI seat and his NBA work for ESPN and ABC, according to the Los Angeles Times and Front Office Sports. What happened to Michael Wilbon, in his own telling, is that he ignored warning signs for too long and now needs time to get healthy. He has not named a diagnosis or a return date.
Two health scares, 18 years apart
This is not the first time Wilbon has had to step back for his health. We put what was reported in 2008 next to what he has said this week.
| 2008 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | A minor heart attack in late January, which he wrote about in his Washington Post column | “Multiple health issues in recent months,” in his words |
| Diagnosis made public | Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed afterward | None named beyond diabetes being “part” of it |
| Time away | Short; his Post column was back within days | Indefinite, with no return date |
| Work affected | PTI and his newspaper column | PTI plus NBA coverage on ESPN and ABC |
The 2008 details come from Sports Business Journal, which covered his first column after the heart attack, and from Awful Announcing, which noted the heart attack and his later Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in its report on this week’s leave. The side-by-side comparison is ours.
What he said, in his words
Wilbon posted his statement on X on Monday. “This isn’t retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list. Hopefully not an extended one,” he wrote, according to the Sporting News. He said he should have listened to doctors and to the people closest to him, “yep Kornheiser included,” who had seen “worrisome signs in recent years.”
He also tried to head off speculation. “The struggles are all health related, not to alcohol (I’m not swearing off the now-and-then Kier Royale) and not to gambling,” he wrote.
He said more that morning on “The Tony Kornheiser Show” podcast. He had missed PTI the week before, he said, “because I was just exhausted; beyond exhausted, lifeless. And this has been going on for awhile,” according to Awful Announcing. He described his habit of working through everything: “You go to work until somebody stops you from going to work. Well, that’s what this is now.” On diabetes, he said that when you ignore warning signs, “the bill comes due, and it’s a damn more expensive bill than it might be for other people.”
Who sits across from Kornheiser now
For now, PTI is using its usual substitutes. An ESPN spokesperson told Front Office Sports that Pablo Torre and Frank Isola would fill in this week. Awful Announcing reported that after this week, the show plans to book guest hosts week by week from its regular bench, which also includes Mina Kimes.
The leave comes less than two weeks after the show’s 25th anniversary on Oct. 22, which got a special episode. Front Office Sports counted more than 5,500 episodes since the 2001 debut. The Los Angeles Times noted that the show has won the Sports Emmy for daily studio show three times, in 2009, 2016 and 2019, and that both hosts signed multiyear contracts in September 2025. Kornheiser is 78.
His NBA work on ESPN and ABC
Wilbon’s leave also takes him off NBA coverage during the early weeks of the season. ESPN has not announced who will take his studio spots. Front Office Sports pointed out that the network has plenty of analysts it could use, including Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Brian Windhorst, Doris Burke and Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement that Wilbon “and his family have ESPN’s full support as he takes time away to focus on his health and well-being,” and added, “We are here for Michael every step of the way and look forward to welcoming him back whenever he is ready.” ESPN colleagues including Dave McMenamin, Pete Thamel and Vincent Goodwill posted get-well messages, the Sporting News reported.
What we still don’t know
Wilbon has not said what his other health issues are, and neither he nor ESPN has given a timeline. He said himself that he has “no idea exactly how this part of my journey will wind up.” What he did say is that he wants to come out of it “feeling much better than I do now and ready to return to sparring with Tony.” Until he or ESPN says more, any claim about what happened to Michael Wilbon that goes past his own statement, such as a specific condition or a set return date, is speculation.
FAQ
Is Michael Wilbon retiring from PTI?
No. He said, “This isn’t retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list,” and that he hopes to return to sparring with Tony Kornheiser.
What health problems does Michael Wilbon have?
He cited multiple health issues and said diabetes is part of it but not all of it. He has not named any other condition.
Who is replacing Wilbon on PTI?
Pablo Torre and Frank Isola are filling in this week, an ESPN spokesperson said. Guest hosts after that will be booked week by week.
How long has Wilbon hosted PTI?
Since the show debuted on Oct. 22, 2001. It marked its 25th anniversary in October 2026.
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Updated November 4, 2026