For many of us who tune in to SportsCenter, Jay Harris has been a comforting, consistent presence for years.
His smooth delivery, calm demeanor, and deep knowledge of the game have made him a staple at ESPN since he joined back in 2003.
But this week, Harris shifted from covering the news to becoming the story himself.
Jay Harris Opens Up About His Cancer Diagnosis
On Thursday morning, Harris made an emotional appearance on Good Morning America, sitting alongside Michael Strahan, where he revealed something deeply personal—he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 60-year-old sportscaster shared the news publicly, not just to inform, but to inspire action.
“I’ll be having surgery on Tuesday,” Harris said.
“It’ll take me about a month away from SportsCenter to recover, but I’ll be back, stronger than ever.”
His tone was hopeful, even reassuring, as he emphasized that the latest scans show the cancer hasn’t spread.
A Message to Men—Especially Black Men
Harris didn’t hold back when explaining why he chose to speak out. His goal?
To reach other men who may be avoiding conversations about their health.
“We just don’t talk,” he admitted, referencing a recent golf trip with friends where, once he brought up his diagnosis, it sparked an unexpected and meaningful discussion.
He added candidly, “By staying silent, we’re putting ourselves in danger. My friends had no clue what I was going through until I said something.”
A Family History That Hits Close to Home
This diagnosis isn’t something entirely unfamiliar for Harris.
He shared that his father had battled the same disease, and it’s affected other relatives in his family as well.
The pattern, he explained, was one more reason he knew he had to get checked—and why other men should too.
Encouraging Preventive Care for Men
Jay made a poignant observation: men need to be as proactive as women when it comes to health screenings.
“We’ve got to follow their lead,” he said.
“Women don’t wait. They go for their check-ups. We should too.”
His words echo the experiences of people close to him.
Hannah Storm, his longtime SportsCenter co-host, faced her own health challenge recently with a breast cancer diagnosis and has been a pillar of support during his journey.
Leaning on His ESPN Family
Harris also gave a shoutout to colleague Brian Custer, who has walked a similar path and undergone the same surgery.
Custer’s guidance and openness helped Jay feel more prepared and less alone as he approached his own treatment.
Looking Ahead With Optimism
So, what’s next for Jay Harris? Surgery, recovery, and a return to the job—and life—he loves.
But even more than that, he hopes his story will encourage men, especially in the Black community, to get informed, get tested, and start talking openly about health.
As he put it, “The goal is to take out the prostate, and hopefully that’ll be the end of it.”
It’s a powerful reminder that opening up can not only change lives—it can save them.