After a remarkable 23-year run, ESPN's popular sports debate show "Around the Horn" will air its final episode in summer 2025, according to sources at The New York Post.
The show, which debuted in 2002 with Max Kellerman as host, pioneered a unique format where sports journalists from across the country competed to deliver the best takes on daily sports stories. Tony Reali, who took over hosting duties in 2004, has been the face of the program for nearly two decades.
"Around the Horn" has maintained its coveted 5 PM ET timeslot paired with "Pardon the Interruption" in ESPN's "Happy Hour" block, consistently delivering strong ratings throughout its tenure. The show has featured numerous prominent sportswriters as regular panelists, including veterans Bob Ryan and Woody Paige, along with newer voices like Mina Kimes and Pablo Torre.
The cancellation marks the end of another long-running ESPN program, following recent endings of shows like "High Noon," "Highly Questionable," "The Jump," and "Jalen and Jacoby." This continues the network's shift away from the sports talk show format that dominated its programming during the John Skipper era.
Sources indicate that ESPN and executive producer Erik Rydholm's team will explore new programming concepts to fill the timeslot. The network has declined to comment on the report.
Tony Reali's future role at ESPN remains unclear. Before hosting "Around the Horn," he gained popularity as "Stat Boy" on "Pardon the Interruption."
The show's production team, led by Aaron Solomon, will prepare for what is expected to be a celebratory final season, honoring its legacy in sports television. When "Around the Horn" concludes, the only remaining regular ESPN shows featuring sportswriters-turned-TV personalities will be "PTI" with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, along with Mina Kimes on NFL Live.