Wednesday, Katie Nolan made the sudden announcement that she was no longer employed by ESPN, where she had worked since 2017.
I’ve thought about sending this tweet for weeks and I still have no clue how to make it not make you all roll your eyes. Alas: the obvious thing has happened. I no longer work at ESPN. I’m really grateful for my time here. I made incredible friendships and valuable mistakes.
— Katie Nolan (probably) (@katienolan) September 29, 2021
“I’ve thought about sending this tweet for weeks and I still have no clue how to make it not make you all roll your eyes,” said Nolan. “The obvious thing has happened. I no longer work at ESPN. I’m really grateful for my time here. I made incredible friendships and valuable mistakes.”
The news wasn’t terribly shocking consider Always Late, Nolan’s late night show, was canceled last year. Still, for Nolan’s time with the company to end with such little fanfare definitely caught many off-guard, given the various ways ESPN had tried to harness her digital expertise and social media awareness across various platforms.
Nolan implied that the move was either personally motivated or at least appreciated due to the effects of the pandemic on daily life.
This year of slowing down has affected me on a cellular level. If you listen to the podcast this isn’t news to you. What’s next for me is to figure out how/where/when this new me can use the skills the old me acquired to make the stuff I think needs making. And maybe a vacation?
— Katie Nolan (probably) (@katienolan) September 29, 2021
Plenty of well-wishes poured in from around the sports world, but Nolan got a lot of complimentary appreciation from her former co-workers at ESPN, many of whom chimed in on Twitter once the news was out.
Sorry to read this, Katie, and wish you the very best with whatever is next. Whatever it is will be fun, lively, compelling and great. Good luck with the next chapter! We will miss you.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2021
Awww Katie! We keep losing all the good ones. We only worked together a couple times (back when Sports? FIRST started), and each time was a pleasure. Keep being YOU Katie! And much success to you 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
— Terrika (@SheKnowsSports) September 29, 2021
understatement of the year but damn i’m gonna miss laughing about dumb stuff on tv together ❤️
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 29, 2021
Katie, you’re an amazing person who has inspired a ton of others through you creativity, talent, humor and passion for what you do. No matter what is next, you’ll do great.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 29, 2021
I really loved working with @katienolan. And I’m already jealous of the people who get to do that next. https://t.co/L2BAkAraO7
— ‘Miserable’ Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) September 29, 2021
Nolan was vague on where she’ll eventually land next, but it seems like wherever she goes she’ll end up being well-regarded by her peers. Now if only the sports media companies who employ her can figure out how to best use her talents…
