Former ESPN Columnist Bill Simmons Could Land At HBO: Report

Could ousted ESPN sports analyst Bill Simmons’ next destination be cable giant HBO? After his falling out with ESPN, which resulted in him leaving the network in May, Simmons is reportedly being considered to join HBO, possibly for a TV show.

Simmons, who joined ESPN in 2011, is still under contract with the sports network until September but will be one of the most sought-after sports personalities in television, owing to his large following.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the 45-year-old Simmons might end up with HBO. “Considerably more likely is Simmons, whom the network is said to have made a big play for after his unceremonious booting from the more corporate ESPN. Such a move would be straight out of the HBO playbook, which famously provided a creative reprieve for former ABC flameout Bill Maher many years earlier,” the report said.

“Though Simmons is said to have several suitors, insiders say conversations at HBO have focused on a TV show -- something Simmons is believed to want -- along with heavy digital extensions that make the prolific personality tailor-made for the HBO Now era.”

A Simmons-HBO pairing would perhaps be a perfect match, considering “The Sports Guy” is the creator of ESPN's highly acclaimed and highly successful “30 for 30” sports documentary series.

Simmons, who also created the sports-pop culture website Grantland, has been silent since the announcement of his release from ESPN. Simmons is expected to receive rich offers from various media entities.