Dick Vitale signs multi-year contract extension with ESPN

Iconic broadcaster Dick Vitale has agreed to a new contract extension with ESPN. His new deal will keep him at the Worldwide Leader through the 2027-28 season.

His new contract extension will also bring his tenure at ESPN to almost 50 years. Vitale has called more than 1,000 games on the network’s air.

ESPN announced the news on Monday in conjunction with the announcement of a new invitational tournament honoring the long-time broadcaster. The Dick Vitale Invitational will begin in 2025.

The first matchup will pit Duke and Texas against each other. The game will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 4, airing on ESPN.

It figures to be a tremendous showcase for the legend. It will obviously feature two of college basketball’s powerhouses, precisely the kind of game Vitale got famous for calling over the years.

“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season.”

Vitale made his return to the broadcasting booth this past February after suffering numerous setbacks. In June 2024, Vitale revealed he had been diagnosed with lymph node cancer and would undergo treatment. It was Vitale’s fourth battle with cancer since 2021, previously surviving lymphoma, melanoma and vocal cord cancer.

On Jan. 8, Vitale announced that he’d defeated cancer once again and would return later that month. However, he suffered a fall that ultimately pushed his return back to February.

Getting back to the airwaves was a huge priority for Dick Vitale, who did so successfully. Now he’s thrilled to have a longer-term extension with ESPN.

“ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,” said Vitale. “Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is ‘Awesome, baby’ with a capital A!”

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this report.