ESPN's Bob Ley, who has been a fixture at the network since its launch 40 years ago, announced his retirement on Wednesday.
The 64-year-old Ley made the announcement on social media. He tweeted that he's enjoying the "best of health" and that the decision to retire was "entirely" his own.
"I feel good about it. It is the right decision at the right time in my life, for the right reasons," he said during an appearance on "Outside the Lines," the show he anchored from its launch in 1990 until last year, when he left on a sabbatical.
Ley was ESPN's longest-tenured anchor, joining "SportsCenter" on the channel's third day of operation on Sept. 9, 1979.
"If there is a single word to describe all that Ley contributed, all the ways in which he helped build ESPN, it would simply be integrity," host Jeremy Schapp said during an "Outside the Lines" segment recapping Ley's career.
ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said Ley set "the standard of excellence" with his "unwavering commitment and unparalleled work ethic."
Ley hosted the first NCAA selection show and the inaugural live broadcast of the NFL draft in 1980. He also anchored many of sports biggest news stories over the past 40 years, including the Boston Marathon bombing and the death of Muhammad Ali.
He also provided the first live national reports during the earthquake in San Francisco at the 1989 World Series.
The investigative program "Outside the Lines" will be Ley's legacy at the network. It started as a series of specials, became a weekly show in 2000 and then began airing daily three years later.
On "Outside the Lines," Ley led reporting on concussions and the NFL's handling of domestic violence cases. The show also gave extensive coverage to the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse findings at Penn State, which resulted in the resignation of coach Joe Paterno, and former U.S. gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's history of sexual abuse.
"Outside the Lines" has received four Edward R. Murrow Awards and two Peabody Awards.
"Bob Ley has always been ESPN's North Star. From the moment we went on the air 40 years ago until right now, he has guided us in the right direction. He has kept us honest," NFL studio host Chris Berman said in a statement.
Ley, who won 11 Sports Emmy Awards, was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame this week. He said he plans to work with Seton Hall University, his alma mater, in retirement.
Ley said he was proud to be a part of ESPN, as well as building "Outside the Lines" and his coverage of soccer.
"I'm proudest of being at the ground floor of something that has become an American cultural institution," he said. "I don't think you can write the cultural history of the United States over the past 40 years without being a chapter on sports and this entity, which is now a global model."
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the Champions League semifinals with a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
Ousmane Dembele’s two second-half goals sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and kept PSG on course to defend European club soccer’s biggest prize.
Dembele’s first goal killed off Liverpool’s fight as the Premier League club went in search of another famous Champions League comeback. The Ballon d’Or winner swept a low left-footed shot from the edge of the area past goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to quieten the home crowd and ease PSG tension.
His second came at the end of a sweeping move in stoppage time.
Dembele had been guilty of wasting chances in the first leg to effectively put the tie to bed and he failed to capitalize on two more first-half opportunities to put the French champion further ahead at Anfield.
But his opening goal was dispatched with precision — nestling in the bottom corner. His second was a clinical finish from close range.
PSG is aiming to become only the second club to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era after Real Madrid won a hat trick of titles between 2016-18.
PSG will play the winner of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the semifinals.
Also Tuesday, Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool players arrive for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Alexander Isak, right, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah run during the warm up before the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG's Willian Pacho, left, and Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike challenge for the ball during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique attends a press conference in Liverpool, England, Monday April 13, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Liverpool. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gestures during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
