Dick Vitale update: ESPN icon delays return to broadcasting after accident

Dick Vitale will unfortunately be unable to make his scheduled return to broadcasting games next week. The iconic ESPN broadcaster had an accident in his home in Florida that has created “new health challenges and near-term physical limitations” unrelated to his cancer, ESPN announced Saturday.

Dick Vitale had been expected to call the Duke vs. Wake Forest game on Saturday, Jan. 25. You can check out the statement from Vitale below:

An update from @DickieV on his broadcast return.

All of us at ESPN are sending our best wishes to Dick for a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/4szfaDib7j

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 18, 2025

Dick Vitale previously revealed his doctor had medically cleared him to return to calling games on Jan. 8 after he was declared “cancer-free” for the fifth time following a lengthy battle with lymph node cancer. Vitale has battled four different types of cancer in the past three and a half years.

He added in the statement that, “I’m devastated that I won’t be courtside with my ESPN buddy Dave O’Brien and with all the players and fans, especially because of the overwhelming response I received when news of my planned return was announced.”

There is currently no timetable for when Dick Vitale will be able to return to calling games, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

“I’m not exactly sure when that will be,” he said. “Yet I’m expected to make a full recovery and will provide updates when I have more information.”

The 85-year-old Vitale has been working his way back to calling college basketball games for ESPN since stepping away prior to the 2023-24 season, what would’ve been his 45th season, after he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in July 2023. After beating that, Vitale was later diagnosed with lymph node cancer in June 2024. It was Vitale’s fifth fight with cancer since 2021 after previously recovering from battles with lymphoma and melanoma.

“There is no better ambassador for the sport of college basketball than Dick Vitale. Even while navigating his own health challenges, Dick continued to look for ways to give back and help others, inspiring us all,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement recently. “Dick is one-of-a-kind and we can’t wait to have him back doing what he loves most.”

Vitale’s last live game assignment was almost two years ago, when he called the 2023 National Championship game between San Diego State and UConn, which the Huskies won 76-59 on April 3, 2023.