More than three years after her departure, Kolber publicly discussed her exit. In an appearance on Sports Business Journal’s Sports Media podcast, she spoke with Richard Deitsch about the experience.
“Probably the most emotional moment was when Norby said ESPN wasn’t going to say anything. I was the first person hired for the launch of ESPN2. I was the first person assigned to the X Games. I was part of Monday Night Football’s move to ESPN. I was involved with some pretty big franchises. You’re not going to say a word? Not thanks for 27 years. Just acknowledge it?” Kolber recalled, later calling it a “bad breakup.”
Now 62, Kolber was among ESPN’s high-profile layoffs in 2023, alongside Steve Young, Jalen Rose, Max Kellerman, and Jeff Van Gundy. At the time, she was hosting Monday Night Countdown, after a career that included roles on SportsCenter, College GameDay, NASCAR coverage, Grand Slam tennis, and horse racing. She indicated she had some sense that layoffs could be looming.
Kolber recalled a conversation with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro about a week before the cuts, describing the talk as cordial but difficult to hear: her name appeared on a whiteboard of potential casualties, and Pitaro could not guarantee her anything. She later broke down in tears at home with her daughter as the reality set in.
She also said that on the morning of the layoffs, ESPN executive Norby Williamson told her she could not publicly disparage ESPN without risking the remaining year on her contract. She described that moment as the point at which she “lost it,” given her long tenure and careful conduct at the company.
The emotional fallout extended beyond the initial call. Watching Monday Night Countdown became painful for Kolber, as the show’s team had felt like family. She likened the experience to a bad breakup and said there was a stretch when she simply did not enjoy watching ESPN.
Kolber is returning to sports media on her own terms with a new project. She will host and executive produce The Originals, a six-part series premiering September 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Scripps Sports Network. The show will feature a diverse lineup, including Jesse Cole, founder of the Savannah Bananas; former NFL head coach Jon Gruden; ESPN reporter Lisa Salters; hockey star Hilary Knight; Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young; and Diana Flores, a standout in Mexican flag football.
This series represents a fresh start for Kolber, who is taking on a leadership role both behind the scenes and in front of the camera as she embarks on this new chapter in her career.
