Dick Vitale, ESPN Agree to New Contract Extension Through 2027-28 CBB Season

A college basketball legend will continue to call games after signing a new contract on Monday.

Dick Vitale inked a new multi-year contract with ESPN through the 2027-28 season, the network announced Monday. Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, calling more than 1,000 college basketball games during his nearly 50-year tenure.

Along with his new contract, ESPN also announced the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, a men's college basketball event that will honor Vitale annually.

“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “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.”

The event will be held for the first time on Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., where Texas and Duke will face off.

“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!”

The contract extension and announcement of the Dick Vitale Invitational comes a month after the 86-year-old revealed that he was cancer-free following a battle with various forms of cancer, including cancer in his vocal cords and a cancerous lymph node that kept him out of broadcasting.

Vitale is now cancer-free and has a new contract with ESPN, which means he'll continue bringing his legendary, passionate calls to fans for at least a few more seasons.