ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen passed away at the age of 93.
Rasmussen brought his vision of a 24/7 all-sports network to life in 1979. Even though he left the network the next year, his impact in helping to launch the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network has far surpassed anyone’s reasonable expectations of what could be possible.
In the wake of his passing, several pillars of ESPN’s past and present stepped forward to pay tribute.
“Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro in a statement released by ESPN. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”
“He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy,” ESPN legend Chris Berman added in the ESPN announcement.
Another ESPN original and titan of the network, Bob Ley, joined SportsCenter to share his thoughts on Rasmussen’s impact and his passing. He spoke fondly about the founder of the worldwide leader of sports not just from the perspective of what he meant to the media and cable worlds, but all of sports as well.
“To be in a room with Bill, was to feel his infectious enthusiasm. The energy he brought.”
Retired ESPN anchor Bob Ley refelcts on the legacy of Bill Rasmussen
pic.twitter.com/C2PYuUZ22M
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 18, 2026
“To be in a room with Bill was to feel his infectious enthusiasm, the energy he brought. This was a network he conceived of in the innermost ring of hell, which is Friday afternoon traffic Waterbury I-84, he and Scott in the car. If you’re a Nutmegger you know what I’m talking about with that traffic. Who kept it alive blowing that campfire maxing out his credit cards at one point to make sure we got up on the satellite. The Los Angeles Lakers wouldn’t be worth $12 billion if early ESPN, this acorn, had not flowered in creating the genesis for the sports culture that is now so important for this country and this world. And so much of that comes back to Bill Rasmussen.” Ley said.
Scott Rasmussen paid tribute to his father in a social media post, reflecting on the very beginnings of the network they helped to launch.
After I finished high school, my father and I worked closely together for a few years in the late 1970s and early ’80s. I will never forget the car ride on August 16, 1978 and am still amazed at what it helped create.
My most cherished memory of my father was at about 6 pm on… https://t.co/GFkSJcGtrS
— Scott Rasmussen (@ScottWRasmussen) August 18, 2026
Other past and present ESPN personalities and staffers paid their respects to Rasmussen on Tuesday.
It has been a great joy to be friends with Bill Rasmussen for 46 years. An insightful and curious entrepreneur who had eternal optimism and a keen sense of humor. I have Bill to thank for my career, as do thousands of others.
More via @ESPNPR: https://t.co/qvVyhRjYITpic.twitter.com/wF2GOf6aHg
— Mike Soltys (@MichaelJSoltys) August 18, 2026
What a life and what an impact he had. RIP to the Sports Cable Maker Bill Rasmussen. He taught us all in so many ways.
RIP. https://t.co/ZbLdUDdDUn
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) August 18, 2026
I was lucky to get to know the remarkable Bill Rasmussen. Not long ago, we sat down for several hours to discuss his creation.
ESPN’s 45th Anniversary: Bill Rasmussen on how ESPN came to be! https://t.co/3axfJLXUpb via @YouTube
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) August 18, 2026
I had the pleasure of interviewing Bill Rasmussen twice. Once, for ESPN’s 25th, and again for the 45th with @JeremySchaap. This man gave thousands of us a life’s work. I thanked him at least 3 times that day. He humbly smiled and said, “Thank YOU.” No, Bill, thank YOU.
— Frankie Saraceno (@frankiesaraceno) August 18, 2026
The Founder Of ESPN Has Passed Away At 93. And His Impact Cannot Be Overstated.
If Bill Rasmussen Started ESPN Today In The Social Media Era — Like Elon Musk With Electric Vehicles — He’d Be One Of The 10 Richest Men On The Planet.
Rest In Peace To The Biggest Pioneer In… pic.twitter.com/bZoVfDWjIi
— UnpavedSeanSalisbury (@SSalisburyShow) August 18, 2026
We owe so much to @Bill_ESPN…for his vision and bringing to life something that connects us all as sports fans and to the teams we care about https://t.co/L7MUJDHYwn
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 18, 2026
If not for this man, none of us would have 24/7 sports to watch. For me, I’m grateful to this man because his vision allowed me to have a life-changing 17 year career at the WWL. My prayers go out to his familly. Thank you Mr. Rasmussen! https://t.co/IXD7T315Ae
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) August 18, 2026
To help remember the life of Bill Rasmussen, ESPN2 is re-airing the documentary on the birth of ESPN that premiered earlier this year.
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