It may sound cliché, but Jay Harris approaches each day with the goal of being better. “It’s a thing—I never want to feel like I’ve arrived... like I’ve conquered this,” says Harris, who in February 2025 celebrates his 22nd year at ESPN, most of it spent hosting the network’s flagship show, SportsCenter.

Even with a shelf full of SportsCenter Emmy Awards, the Norfolk, Va., native remains driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. “I don’t care if [your content] is going to social media, to Mars, or to cable TV—it doesn’t matter. My job is to be a journalist every single day, and to do everything journalistically.”

Harris joined the Press Pause podcast and shared that it was in 11th grade when he first felt inspired to pursue journalism.

Twenty years at ESPN, he says, have flown by. “But it’s been a good ride,” he reflects. “As blurry as it is, it’s been a good ride.”