85-Year-Old Broadcaster Dick Vitale Falls at Home, Faces ‘Setback’ in Return to Booth After Hospitalization

Mar. 15, 2025

Dick Vitale.Photo:Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Dick Vitale’s return to broadcasting has been put on hold as he recovers following a “tough fall” at his Florida home.The 85-year-old was due to head back to the booth for the first time since 2023 to call the Duke at Wake Forest men’s college basketball game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on Saturday, Jan. 25,ESPNreported.However, the legendary sports broadcaster revealedon Xon Saturday, Jan. 18, that he was recovering after having a fall.“I’m sorry that unable to post about sports but I’m recovering from a tough fall & being kept active at the hospital. Good news is the neurosurgeons have said I am making great strides & surgery not necessary. So sorry that I can’t get at courtside as was planned,” Vitale wrote.Dick Vitale.Dominik Bindl/GettyOn Sunday, Jan. 19, Vitale confirmed on the social media platform that he was back at home.“Sweet home - nothing like home! Just was released from the hospital -THANKS to ALL at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The medical staff - nurses plus all those that played a role in getting me to recover from what was ailing me after an accident at my home on Friday,” hewrote.In a statement to ESPN, Vitale assured fans his fall was “unrelated” to any of his “cancer scares” after revealing last month thathe was cancer-freeafter being diagnosed with four different types of the disease in around three and a half years.“I’m devastated that I won’t be courtside with my ESPN buddy Dave O’Brien and with all the players and fans, especially because of the overwhelming response I received when news of my planned return was announced,” Vitale insisted, perESPN, who posted thefull statement on X.“I was anxiously awaiting the chance to feel the excitement and energy of a college basketball environment for the first time in nearly two years,” he added.“Despite this latest setback, I feel blessed to have the support of my family, friends and ESPN teammates,” Vitale continued. “I’m a lucky guy and as I’ve said before, I will continue to do whatever it takes to get back to calling the sport I love.“Dick Vitale.Peyton Williams/UNC/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Vitale’s latest health issue comes after he revealed he had a lot to celebrate over the 2024 holiday season.“SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER ! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your 🙏🙏🙏,” heposted on Xon Dec. 12.The ESPN broadcaster was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma in 2021, which he announced were in remission in August 2022. He then revealed he had vocal cord cancer in July 2023, before confirming in June 2024 that he was set toundergo surgery to treat a cancerfound in one of his lymph nodes.

Dick Vitale’s return to broadcasting has been put on hold as he recovers following a “tough fall” at his Florida home.

The 85-year-old was due to head back to the booth for the first time since 2023 to call the Duke at Wake Forest men’s college basketball game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on Saturday, Jan. 25,ESPNreported.

However, the legendary sports broadcaster revealedon Xon Saturday, Jan. 18, that he was recovering after having a fall.

“I’m sorry that unable to post about sports but I’m recovering from a tough fall & being kept active at the hospital. Good news is the neurosurgeons have said I am making great strides & surgery not necessary. So sorry that I can’t get at courtside as was planned,” Vitale wrote.

Dick Vitale.Dominik Bindl/Getty

Dominik Bindl/Getty

On Sunday, Jan. 19, Vitale confirmed on the social media platform that he was back at home.

“Sweet home - nothing like home! Just was released from the hospital -THANKS to ALL at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The medical staff - nurses plus all those that played a role in getting me to recover from what was ailing me after an accident at my home on Friday,” hewrote.

In a statement to ESPN, Vitale assured fans his fall was “unrelated” to any of his “cancer scares” after revealing last month thathe was cancer-freeafter being diagnosed with four different types of the disease in around three and a half years.

“I’m devastated that I won’t be courtside with my ESPN buddy Dave O’Brien and with all the players and fans, especially because of the overwhelming response I received when news of my planned return was announced,” Vitale insisted, perESPN, who posted thefull statement on X.

“I was anxiously awaiting the chance to feel the excitement and energy of a college basketball environment for the first time in nearly two years,” he added.

“Despite this latest setback, I feel blessed to have the support of my family, friends and ESPN teammates,” Vitale continued. “I’m a lucky guy and as I’ve said before, I will continue to do whatever it takes to get back to calling the sport I love.”

Dick Vitale.Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty

Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Vitale’s latest health issue comes after he revealed he had a lot to celebrate over the 2024 holiday season.

“SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER ! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your 🙏🙏🙏,” heposted on Xon Dec. 12.

The ESPN broadcaster was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma in 2021, which he announced were in remission in August 2022. He then revealed he had vocal cord cancer in July 2023, before confirming in June 2024 that he was set toundergo surgery to treat a cancerfound in one of his lymph nodes.

source: people.com