It’s the end of Lee Corso’s ESPN era. This long run has come to an end this year. And for the first time in 38 years, you won’t be seeing Lee’s face on ESPN College GameDay. On Thursday, in a statement via ESPN, the legendary analyst announced that he will finally be retiring from his decades-long broadcasting career. “My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years. I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories, and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.“
And as soon as the headlines made rounds, the tributes began pouring in for the beloved analyst. From former players to fellow analysts, everyone shared their thanks to Coach Corso. Former legendary QB and now broadcaster Peyton Manning also penned an emotional note for Corso. Peyton took to his Instagram account to pay tribute to the 89-year-old. Sharing a picture of himself with Lee, Peyton captioned, “When you think college football, you think Lee Corso. Congratulations, Lee, on an incredible career at the College GameDay desk. Go Vols!”
Lee has been the face of ESPN since 1987. Over his 38-year career, Lee became synonymous with College GameDay. The analyst is loved for his famous mascot headgear moments and his catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend.” Now that he is leaving, college football coverage on ESPN will never be the same again.
Fellow College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit also shared a deeply heartfelt tribute to his longtime partner, Corso. Reflecting on nearly three decades of working together, Kirk said, “Almost 30 years together. I’ve enjoyed sitting next to you, watching you do your thing. So much fun and so many great moments on and off the show. This is a celebration for everything you did,” in a video shared on X after the news of Corso’s retirement. He added, “You’re an icon and a once-in-a-lifetime person. It has been a special time for all of us. You’ve earned this retirement.“
Well, as Lee Corso’s legendary run at ESPN comes to an end, it’s worth noting that Peyton Manning once turned down a massive offer from the network for a similar role.
The offer Peyton Manning rejected years ago
In 2020, ESPN offered Peyton Manning the role of Monday Night Football color commentator. As per multiple reports, the channel was offering the former legendary QB an annual salary somewhere between $18 million to $20 million. But despite the huge paycheck on the table, Peyton turned down the offer, according to Andrew Marchand of The New York Post.
Later, Manning’s production company, Omaha Productions, would go on to collaborate with ESPN in July 2021. Together, they created “ManningCast,” an alternate broadcast of Monday Night Football featuring Peyton and his brother Eli Manning. The former QB also hosted Peyton’s Places on ESPN+. ESPN and the Manning brothers’ collaboration on ManningCast was a huge success, leading to an expansion of their production company’s involvement in other sports, including college football, UFC, and golf. This month, ESPN and Omaha Productions signed a long-term deal that extends until 2034.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Pro Bowl Skills Competition Feb 2, 2023 Henderson, NV, USA Peyton Manning left and Eli Manning react during the Pro Bowl Skills competition at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Facility. Las Vegas Intermountain Healthcare Performance Facility NV USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20230202_jhp_al2_0110
Manning brothers’ other shows, including Peyton’s Places and Eli’s Places, will also continue to broadcast on the channel. In these shows, Peyton will continue to take audiences through pro football’s history and culture, while Eli will take them through college football’s history. Well, what seemed like a missed opportunity has now turned into a winning collaboration. Peyton’s decision to walk away from ESPN opened doors to a partnership that’s shaping the future of sports broadcasting.
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