• Loading stock data...
Monday, March 17, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

ESPNers React to Adrian Wojnarowski’s Stunning Retirement

  • ESPN insiders flooded social media with tributes to Wojnarowski and his career.
  • The NBA insider is retiring after becoming a titan of breaking news reporting.
USA TODAY

NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski shocked the basketball and journalist industries Wednesday, announcing his retirement from ESPN to become the GM of his alma mater St. Bonaventure’s men’s basketball team.

This wasn’t a move many at ESPN saw coming. One staffer told Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy they were “floored” by the news. “There’s only one Woj,” they said.

Messages from Wojnarowski’s colleagues at ESPN flooded social media, with multiple colleagues comparing him to Barry Sanders, the Lions running back whose retirement stunned the NFL in 1999.

“I’ve been fortunate to spend more than 20 years in this business working with reams of talented people. Adrian Wojnarowski is the best. Period. A peerless reporter. A gifted wordsmith. A storyteller nonpareil. He is Jim Brown and Barry Sanders, leaving at the apex of his game,” wrote MLB reporter Jeff Passan.

Stephen A. Smith posted that he is “devastated” over Wojnarowski’s departure. “What a loss for us here at ESPN. The absolute best in the business, my man @wojespn. I’m gonna miss you, Buddy!” Smith repeated these sentiments on First Take: “I just hope that this is a very, very happy move, and I anticipate that it is, because we sure didn’t ask him to leave, I can assure you of that.”

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro echoed Smith in a statement: “While we will miss his daily output, we completely understand his decision to make a lifestyle change and slow down a bit.”

“Wow. Congrats & best wishes to you and your family on your retirement. It was an honor to work with you for 15-plus years. You changed the ways that news is broken in sports and will be forever remembered for your Woj bombs. Respect my friend. Definitely left on top. Go Bonnies!” posted NBA writer Marc Spears.

ESPN treated the story not as a press release about an employee, but a news story by three of its most famous writers: Passan, Pete Thamel, and Adam Schefter. 

Many of the tributes spoke to Wojnarowski’s character outside his work.

“Just so we’re clear. Woj was an EXCELLENT insider. The BEST. But I love the friend who sent baby gifts, who snagged DU gear for my parents b/c he knew they went there and who would ALWAYS send a note of support at EXACTLY the time u needed it. He is the most thoughtful man and friend and I’m honored to know him. GO BONNIES @wojespn .. ur my teammate for life!” studio host Elle Duncan posted.

“Woj is one of the best sports reporters, columnist and writers ever to talk the earth. More importantly he’s as nice and supportive of young journalists as anyone in this industry. I can speak to that first hand but so too can dozens of others. As good as it gets. A true legend,” posted football podcaster Kevin Clark.

Ex-ESPN personality Bomani Jones asked people to think about Wojnarowski’s legacy beyond his signature news flashes: “forget about the bombs. adrian’s the single best basketball columnist i’ve ever read. this is a stunner,” he posted.

Another former ESPNer, Dan Le Batard, acknowledged Wojnarowski’s grueling schedule on his show. “I’m telling you that that lifestyle is a mental health calamity. I would not want it no matter how much it pays,” he said, adding that he thinks other breaking news reporters like Schefter and Shams Charania are probably jealous of Wojnarowski. “For him to get out when the information person is more valuable than they’ve ever been, I don’t think it’s suspicious, I think it’s everything to do with lifestyle happiness. That is a job that it’s almost impossible to be happy in.”

Those outside of the Bristol bubble also praised Wojnarowski.

“We’ve been friends for 37 years and it’s always been my great privilege to call him my brother. Not sure I’ve ever been prouder of him than today, ending one remarkable chapter of his career and hitting the ground running on another,” posted New York Post sports columnist and fellow St. Bonaventure graduate Mike Vaccaro, along with a throwback and recent photo of the two.

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski offered a personal story: “Met Woj at the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage after reading him for a few years while he was the columnist at The Bergen Record. He has been a friend, a mentor, and a model ever since, and he’s going out the way any of us would want. All the best to him and his family.”

Max Tani, a media editor at Semafor, posted: “Gotta respect Woj for this. At some point there’s more to life than being first by ten minutes to tweet out that PJ Dozier has signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on a new one year non guaranteed minimum deal.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

SEC to Earn $26M With Record 14 Men’s NCAA Tournament Bids

The conference’s investment in the sport is paying off.
exclusive

Alexis Ohanian Wants TGL to Expand Into Women’s Golf: Q&A

Ohanian is bullish on the future of TGL.
Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.

Canadian City Removes All American Flags From Its Sports Arenas

The Mississauga mayor said she’s sending a “proud Canadian message.”
Auburn Tigers guard Miles Kelly (13) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against Kentucky during the first half in SEC basketball at Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky March 1, 2025

The SEC’s Ascent to Men’s Basketball Supremacy

The league brought its football pageantry and power to college hoops.

Featured Today

San Diego Wave FC falls to Orlando Pride at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA on April 29, 2023.

The New Tailored Approach to Women’s Sports Uniforms

For new women’s sports leagues, every detail is custom.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) cuts down the net after beating LSU in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament between Iowa and LSU at MVP Arena, Monday, April 1, 2024 in Albany, N.Y.
opinion
March 9, 2025

Reader Mailbag: Leagues Need Must-Watch Moments

Readers responded to NHL success and what it means for other leagues.
Moolah Kicks
March 8, 2025

Breaking the Mold: The Brands Designing Footwear Specifically for Female Athletes

New companies are laser focused on changing the women’s athletic footwear landscape.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY, 22: Houston Astros play the Washington Nationals in Spring Training at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on February 22, 2025 in West Palm Beach, FL. (
March 6, 2025

Astros Strength Coach Stephanie Grubbs Is Building an ‘Arsenal’ of Skills

The MLB team’s first female coach talks to FOS about her trajectory.
Mar 10, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) react after a call on a play against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Paycom Center.

ESPN ‘Aggressive’ in NBA Schedule Flexes, On Pace for Record

This Sunday’s Sixers-Mavericks game was subbed out for Magic- Cavaliers.
March 13, 2025

Sports Rebundling Continues As DirecTV, Roku Bet on Live Rights

DirecTV and Roku lean further in to sports to attract viewers.
Behind the scenes with NBC's TODAY show at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
March 13, 2025

NBC, Olympics Reach $3 Billion Rights Extension

The Olympics will remain on NBC through at least 2036.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
March 12, 2025

As Ovechkin Closes on Gretzky, Caps Secure Local Broadcast Access

The NHL team will have local productions of four exclusive national games.
March 12, 2025

PGA Tour’s $20 Million Signature Events Seeing TV Ratings Boost

Three of the four elevated tournaments have made viewership gains.
March 12, 2025

CBS Sports at Stake As Paramount Acquisition Gets Contentious

Skydance says a rival bid for CBS Sports’ parent is “fraudulently misrepresented.”
Mar 8, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at the TD Garden.
March 11, 2025

Celtics-Lakers Draws Record Ratings, NBA Nearly Even With Last Year

The game peaked at 5.34 million viewers.