Jackie MacMullan retired from ESPN last week, but she’s not done with media entirely. She is still doing work for The Ringer over the coming months and appeared on The Bill Simmons Podcast to discuss why she left ESPN. MacMullan wrapped up a writing career that spans nearly forty years since she first started with the Boston Globe in 1982.
The two discussed what’s next for MacMullan, why she chose to leave a year into her ESPN extension, and how to operate as a journalist in today’s media world.
“You have to be really all-in on this job…if you’re going to do it properly, you have to be all-in,” MacMullan said about leaving right now. “I was having a hard time doing that. I was having a hard time generating the enthusiasm.”
Simmons joked with her about his “fingers not working anymore,” and MacMullan acknowledged she’s ready to spend more time with her family. The departure also opens the door for a wide range of talented women to take her place on different platforms.
“Around the Horn has been my family for the eighteen-something years, but how many more times do I need to be on Around the Horn? We’ve got all these great young women, new voices on that show. I was the only woman on that show for a really long time, for way too long in my opinion.”
MacMullan’s made nearly 900 appearances on the program and her final show on Aug. 30 marks the last time ESPN audiences will watch her as an employee.
“Now we have all these great young female voices: Mina Kimes, Monica McNutt, Sarah Spain, my girl Ramona [Shelburne] who breaks news all over, I’m gonna leave people out…Emily Kaplan, she’s just a star…Elle Duncan is another one. And it’s just their turn. It’s their turn.”
MacMullan dove into a few more topics with Simmons, including an upcoming project she is working on for The Ringer. She also discussed a potential podcast appearance with her, Simmons, and legendary sportswriter Bob Ryan.