Long-serving ESPN reporter Michele Steele announces shock exit with emotional statement

Michele Steele has announced she is leaving ESPN after 14 years with the network in an emotional statement on social media.

Steele, 46, worked as an anchor on SportsCenter while also covering a number of assignments in Bristol, Boston and Chicago as a reporter after joining back in 2011. Her last day will be on Friday August 1.

'I'm turning the page...' she wrote in her statement on X. 'After a 14-year journey at ESPN, spanning assignments in Bristol, Boston, and Chicago, this chapter as a bureau reporter concludes on Aug. 1.'

'My Day 1 assignment in the Boston bureau was the day Aaron Hernandez was arrested - fulfilling my dad’s prophecy that you really will be surprised what you wind up doing in life.

'Great times with great people covering Monday Night Football on SportsCenter, the women’s hoops juggernaut, the National Spelling Bee and the Warrior Games, which I loved so much because of my family’s military connection. Along the way, there was a heavy dose of SportsCenter anchoring and a little podcasting, too.

'ESPN has some of the best storytellers, producers and editors around, and I’m thankful to have learned so much.'

Steele, who previously worked as a sports reporter for Bloomberg and a daily contributor for Forbes on Fox, is unclear what the future holds ahead of her ESPN departure. The nature of her exit is also unclear.

'Recently, I shared advice on a friend's podcast for those entering the industry: "walk through open doors.” Don’t be too rigid about your career, open yourself to possibilities.' she added.

'It's that approach that got me from reporting on Wall Street to the anchor chair in Bristol and front and center at championship games. Now, I'm taking my own advice.

'Up next: Looking forward to building and growing…if you're at AAJA in Seattle this month, let's connect… watch this space.'

Steele, who was recognized by ESPN in its 'Volunteer of the Year' awards in 2019 for her work with the Special Olympics and Unified Sports, is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

According to ESPN's website, earlier this year she was named President of AAJA Sports' Sports Task Force, where she 'leads efforts to grow the sports media landscape, foster collaboration and representation, and engage broader audiences.'