Quick Info
| Profession | Sports journalist and television personality |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 19/11/1958 |
| Age | 67 years |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
Latest News about Michael Wilbon
02/11/2026
Michael Wilbon announced an indefinite leave of absence from ESPN, stepping back from Pardon the Interruption and his NBA coverage on ESPN and ABC. He cited struggles with multiple health issues in recent months and said the break is not a retirement. He gave no timetable for his return, and ESPN has not named a regular replacement opposite Tony Kornheiser.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Michael Ray Wilbon is an American host and commentator for ESPN who previously worked as a sportswriter and columnist for The Washington Post. He became widely known as Mike Wilbon. In November 2026 he announced an indefinite leave of absence from his ESPN and ABC duties to address health problems. |
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| Early Life | Raised on Chicago's South Side, he attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory before enrolling at Northwestern University. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Northwestern University | Bachelor's degree from the Medill School of Journalism, 1980 |
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Personal Life
| Health | Suffered a heart attack in January 2008; also reported to have type-2 diabetes; announced an indefinite leave of absence in November 2026 citing multiple health issues, stating it was not a retirement |
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| Residence | Has lived in the Washington, D.C. area, including Bethesda, Maryland |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Cheryl Johnson Wilbon |
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| Notable Collaborations | Long-time co-host with Tony Kornheiser on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, and co-editor of two Charles Barkley books |
Family
| Father | Raymond Wilbon |
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| Mother | Cleo Wilbon |
| Son | Matthew Raymond Wilbon |
Career
| The Washington Post | Began as a sports reporter in 1980 and served as a columnist from 1990 to 2010; left the paper in December 2010 |
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| ESPN | Co-host of Pardon the Interruption since 2001 and analyst on NBA Countdown since joining NBA coverage in 2005; reportedly signed an extension in 2025 to keep co-hosting PTI through 2028; on indefinite leave from PTI and NBA duties as of November 2026 |
| Other Work | Appeared on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. and worked on the BET Budweiser Sports Report before joining ESPN |
| Books | Edited Charles Barkley's books I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It and Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man? |
| Awards |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Cubs–Cardinals game at Wrigley Field on August 10, 2008 | |
| 2. Competed in the made-for-TV show King of Bowling in May 2009 | |
| 3. Has served as a trustee for Northwestern University | |
| 4. Wrote for The Daily Northwestern while in college | |
| 5. Has been a weekly contributor to WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. since 1996 |
