Longtime sports media insider Richard Deitsch has been among the most commanding voices in the industry for the past two decades. As 2025 comes to a close, that run has reached another turning point. Deitsch announced Tuesday night that he is stepping away from The Athletic, marking the end of a seven-year tenure with the digital subscription outlet.
In a detailed social media post, Deitsch reflected on his time at the company, noting that sports media coverage was still relatively rare when he arrived in March 2018. At the time, The Athletic’s focus centered largely on building local markets and team-specific coverage. Since then, he said, the outlet has expanded into near-daily reporting on sports media and business — content he described as “immensely popular” and something he was proud to help grow.
“My last day with The Athletic is December 31,” Deitsch wrote. “In an era of media consolidation and endless job losses, I have been beyond lucky to have had such a long run between two national outlets that readers care about.”
Before joining The Athletic, Deitsch spent decades at Sports Illustrated, where his reporting spanned the Olympics, women’s basketball and major international events. Over time, however, he became best known for chronicling the sports media industry itself, helping bring greater visibility to a beat that has drawn increased audience interest amid rapid change.
Alongside his peers, Deitsch played a key role in pushing sports media reporting into the mainstream. Deitsch’s move to Toronto during his time at The Athletic further broadened his reach. In addition to his writing, he became involved in sports talk radio in Canada, offering a cross-border perspective on North American media trends.
In his post, Deitsch also emphasized his appreciation for colleagues at The Athletic, calling the opportunity to work alongside them “incredible” and wishing the staff continued success. He confirmed that his long-running sports media podcast will continue, noting that it has always existed independently of the publication.
Looking ahead, Deitsch said he plans to share details about his next steps once 2026 officially begins. He teased “a pair of amazing opportunities” — one in the United States and one in Canada — at organizations he has long admired.
The Athletic is expected to continue its sports media coverage moving forward, with Andrew Marchand remaining a central figure on that beat.
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