Colin Cowherd Is Leaving ESPN, Is Third Major Star to Exit Sports Network Since May

His Departure Follows Exits of Keith Olbermann and Bill Simmons

And Colin Cowherd makes three.

The ESPN and ESPN Radio personality is leaving the Disney-owned company, ESPN announced in Thursday. He is the third major star to exit since May. That month, Skipper announced that the cable network would not be renewing the contract of Bill Simmons, who is one of its best known TV personalities. Earlier this month, ESPN said host and commentator Keith Olbermann would be leaving the company, marking his second time.

"We've enjoyed a mutually beneficial run with Colin for over a decade," ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement. "He came to national prominence on ESPN with his unique perspective on sports and society. Endings also bring new beginnings, for ESPN and Colin, and we thank him and wish him the best."

Cowherd has not commented. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he "will exit before the conclusion of his contract for a job at Fox Sports." The cable network, ESPN's major rival, has not commented.

Cowherd began his career at ESPN in 2003. He is best known for hosting the syndicated ESPN Radio sports talk show The Herd with Colin Cowherd, which also airs on ESPNU and is also in podcast format. He also hosted the ESPN series SportsNation between 2009 and 2012. A year later, he began hosting Colin's New Football Show on ESPN2 on Sundays.