Bob Costas Soon to Hit the Free Agent Market

Legendary sports broadcaster Bob Costas is leaving NBC Sports. When he hits the open market, he’ll have plenty of suitors waiting to offer him a deal.

The free agent market is about to get really interesting, and no, we’re not talking about the MLB. We are in an age where when a sports writer or broadcaster like Bob Costas is let go, the game is on. 

When a writer is in the search and lands the gig, Twitter explodes. If you don’t believe me, look back at when Ken Rosenthal joined the Athletic (before dozens more did). Or, if you like basketball, think of when Adrian Wojnarowski left Yahoo Sports for ESPN.

The same thing could happen to Bob Costas.

According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, the 66-year-old and NBC Sports’ are “in discussions to end the relationship.”

Man, who would have saw this coming? Well, maybe some did. If you’re a believer in younger, fresh faces to lead a prominent sports media outlet, then you’re probably in favor of ousting Costas. To the more traditional, old-style crowd, though, Costas’ imminent departure could be one that’s held in low regard.

Marchand went on to report that Costas’ contract, which runs through 2021, could be ended earlier if allowed to leave NBC. Based on the report, it seems evident that both parties are splitting from a common denominator.

“Costas has always stood out among sports network anchors for his willingness to speak strongly on the issues, even on the events NBC is covering,” Marchand said. “NBC rarely utilizes Costas on-air after he stepped away from his last major roles on the Olympics and the NFL.”

The NBC employee of over 40 years has his sights set on something that has taken media by storm; a show discussing both culture and sports.

In the report, Marchand said that “Costas wants to pursue a journalism show that would feature interviews, commentaries and a critical look at the world of sports and perhaps other topics.”

In other words, he wants to put his own mark on an industry that is steadily blossoming. For instance, LeBron James’ has followed the wave with his own show titled, “The Shop.” It’s a place where he and other stars in sports, music and pop culture come together to talk about a wide variety of topics.

It seems as though NBC is more focused on leaving the political and social commentary out of its broadcasts.

“Sometimes you get to a point where it is not a fit anymore,” Costas said. “It doesn’t mean that anyone is angry or upset.”

Wherever Bob Costas ends up next, it should be good. He’s leaving NBC at the right time, too, as there are a handful of worthy platforms for his potential show. The shortlist includes Amazon, Netflix, and HBO.

When he leaves NBC, it won’t be because he did anything. He’s simply changing with the times.