Why Is Lester Holt Leaving ‘NBC Nightly News?’ Here’s Who Could Replace Him

Lester Holt is stepping down as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News after a decade at the helm. Why is Holt leaving the long-running broadcast, and who might replace him? Read on to learn everything to know so far about his upcoming exit.

The 65-year-old journalist announced the surprising news on Monday in a note to Nightly and Dateline staffers, revealing that he plans to leave the program at the start of the summer.

“A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history,” he wrote. “As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride.”

Holt became the anchor of NBC Nightly News in June 2015 after leading the weekend editions of the broadcast for eight years and co-anchoring Weekend TODAY for 12 years. He also assumed the role of principal anchor of Dateline in September 2011.

Janelle Rodrigez, NBC News’ executive vice president of programming, praised Holt in a letter to staff members. “He has led the network during some of the country’s most fraught and challenging times in the past decade,” she wrote Monday. “Quite simply, Lester is the beating heart of this news organization.”

ForbesLester Holt To Step Down As Anchor Of ‘NBC Nightly News’By Mark Joyella

Why Is Lester Holt Leaving NBC Nightly News?

While announcing his departure, Holt explained that after 10 years—17 if you count his years on the weekend editions—the time had come for him to “step away” from his role at NBC Nightly News.

“After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News,” he wrote. “It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”

However, Holt made it clear that his departure from Nightly News should not be construed as a retirement. He will remain at NBC and continue as host of NBC’s prime-time newsmagazine, Dateline, but on a full-time basis.

“I’m excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a fulltime capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about,” he penned in the letter. “I am thrilled to be able to work more closely with my enormously talented friends at Dateline as the broadcast continues to grow and attract new viewers in new places.”

ForbesRachel Maddow Calls MSNBC Cutting Joy Reid ‘A Bad Mistake’By Mark Joyella

When Is Lester Holt Leaving NBC Nightly News?

Holt shared that he plans to continue anchoring NBC Nightly News until around the beginning of summer 2025, though the exact date of his final broadcast has not yet been announced.

“As we get closer, I’ll of course firm up the date and keep all of you in the loop. In the meantime, to my Nightly friends, I look forward to sharing some banana pudding as is our send-off tradition!” he concluded in the note.

Who Is Replacing Lester Holt On NBC Nightly News?

NBC News has not confirmed who will take over for Holt. Page Six reported on Feb. 24 that Tom Llamas and Hallie Jackson are the frontrunners to replace Holt on the popular nightly news program. “It’s def Tom,” an NBC insider told the site. “It’s basically a race between Tom and Hallie Jackson, but Tom is 99 percent.” Saturday Nightly News anchor José Díaz-Balart could also be in the mix, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

ForbesJoy Reid Leaves MSNBC; Symone Sanders, Jen Psaki Move To Prime TimeBy Mark Joyella

Who Is Tom Llamas?

Tom Llamas worked at NBC News and MSNBC from 2000 to 2014 before returning in 2021 after some time at ABC, where he served as the weekend anchor of ABC World News Tonight from 2014 until his final broadcast on Jan. 31, 2021. Now back at NBC, he is a Senior National Correspondent and anchors Top Story with Tom Llamas on weeknights at 7 p.m. ET on NBC News Now.

Who Is Hallie Jackson?

Hallie Jackson has been with NBC since 2014 when she became a reporter for NBC News. Now, she serves as a Senior Washington Correspondent for NBC News, anchors MSNBC’s 3:00 p.m. hour, and hosts Hallie Jackson NOW on NBC News Now. She also anchors the Sunday broadcast of NBC Nightly News.

Who Is Jose Diaz-Balart?

José Díaz-Balart is the anchor of José Díaz-Balart Reports on MSNBC and hosts NBC Nightly News on Saturdays. He also contributes regularly to NBC News and Noticias Telemundo. In 2016, when he took over the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News, he became the first journalist to anchor two evening newscasts on separate broadcast networks in both English and Spanish.

Stay tuned for updates on Holt’s final day at Nightly News and who will officially replace him.