SportsCenter is ESPN's flagship show that gives a rundown of what you missed from the previous day and what you need to know about what is going on in sports. The hosts of the show were charged with being serious when they had to be, but otherwise presenting sports in a relatable way for all fans.
Jay Harris joined ESPN in 2003 as an anchor for ESPNEWS. Only three months later he joined the SportsCenter desk, and has never left. He has been a pivotal member of the show for over two decades.
While providing highlights for the biggest sports moments over the last 20 years, he also starred in ESPN's wildly successful "This is SportsCenter" commercials, including a classic featuring the Devils mascot.
On Thursday morning's episode of 'Good Morning America', Harris revealed a health diagnosis that will take him away from the SportsCenter desk for an extended period of time.
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Here is more on Harris' health update.
Jay Harris health update
Harris announced that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will be having surgery. He included that he will be away from SportsCenter for about a month while recovering, but promises to come back better than ever.
JUST IN: ESPN @SportsCenter anchor @JayHarrisESPN shares prostate cancer diagnosis: “I’m having surgery on Tuesday. I'll be away from SportsCenter for about a month to recover. Then I'm coming back better than ever.” pic.twitter.com/CUM92LMRif
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 5, 2025
Harris did include that his doctor is "quite optimistic" about his outlook. He included in an interview with Michael Strahan that he hopes that by his coming out with this diagnosis, it will inspire men to get their prostates checked and to be more open about getting health issues checked out. Harris discussed his support system, ranging from his family to his work family. He specifically shouted out Hannah Storm and Brian Custer, who are both cancer survivors themselves, and he leaned on them for support.
Harris also penned his only PR announcement on ESPN Front Row, talking about his diagnosis, what to expect and how he is processing it.
Harris posted an update video to his X/Twitter account. He said that the cancer stayed in his prostate and his surgery removed it fully. Harris said he expects to be back on SportsCenter on July 12.
Hi! Just posting an update. Appreciate y’all!#FightCancer #SeeYouSoon pic.twitter.com/mTyJe2Emwx
— Jay Harris (@JayHarrisESPN) June 23, 2025
Jay Harris age
Harris was born on February 22, 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia. He is 60 years old, which plays into the check-ups that he had been getting and helped to reveal his diagnosis.
Jay Harris ESPN career
Harris joined ESPN in 2003, at the age of 38. Before getting into sportscasting he was a nightly anchor at WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He joined ESPN to be an anchor on ESPNEWS, but after filling in on the SportsCenter desk three months after starting, that is where he has remained throughout his career.
While also at ESPN, he has been part of various programming. Harris has hosted or appeared on Outside The Lines, NFL Live, Baseball Tonight, Cold Pizza, First Take, Friday Night Fights, and ESPN Sports Saturday on ABC in his 22-year tenure with the company.