Peter Gammons Leaving ESPN

Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN after almost 20 years with the network.

Gammons, who joined ESPN in 1990, said he is leaving to pursue other endeavors.

"My decision to leave ESPN and move on at this point in my life has been conflicted," Gammons. "I owe a great deal of my professional life to ESPN, having spent more than half of my 40 years in journalism working for the network, and the choice to move on was made with nothing but the strongest feelings for the people with whom I worked. ESPN gave me a great deal more than I gave it, and will always be a huge part of who I am."

"As a print journalist moving to television, Peter was a pioneer who became a Hall of Famer," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president, production. "His contributions to ESPN will never be forgotten. We're sad to see Peter go, but understand his desire for new challenges and a less demanding schedule."

Gammons suffered a severe aneurysm in 2006.

"Peter was the best and the brightest in making the transition from print to video," said John Walsh, ESPN's executive vice president and executive editor. "For ESPN, he contributed 21 Hall of Fame years as a journalist and, throughout, set the standard for others to reach for."