Ryen Russillo EXITING ESPN Radio

ESPN senior vice president Traug Keller, who oversees the company's audio operation, said in a statement released on Twitter on Wednesday morning that Ryen Russillo's last show with the company will be broadcast Friday. Russillo will host a weekly podcast through next summer, Keller added.

"While we extended an attractive offer for Ryen to continue with ESPN, he has decided to pursue other opportunities when his contract expires next year," Keller said. "I respect his decision and we wish him continued success."

USAToday reports Russillo wrote on Twitter that he would discuss the decision at the beginning of Wednesday's edition of The Ryen Russillo Show.

“While we extended an attractive offer for Ryen to continue with ESPN, he has decided to pursue other opportunities when his contract expires next year,” Traug Keller, ESPN Audio’s senior vice president, said in a statement, adding that his final show is Friday and that he will host a weekly podcast through next summer.

“Ryen has been a signature voice for ESPN Audio for more than a decade, also contributing to other ESPN platforms with his work on the NBA, college football and more. I respect his decision and we wish him continued success.”

Last month, ESPN announced that Will Cain would become his permanent co-host and moved the show, to be called “Russillo and Cain,” to a 3-6 p.m. slot to make way for “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” which is expanding to a national platform.

“This was a really tough decision,” Russillo said in a statement. “ESPN Radio means a lot to me. Even though I won’t be sitting in a studio every day like I have for the last eight-plus years, I’m looking forward to working on a podcast and still providing content for the company.”

Russillo, 42, joined ESPN Radio in 2006 and co-hosted a show with Scott Van Pelt for six years, beginning in 2009. He then co-hosted a show with former NFL quarterback Danny Kanell for roughly two years before Kanell was laid off by the company in April.

Russillo's departure comes a little more than a month after another ESPN Radio staple, Mike & Mike, ended following an 18-year run. Mike Greenberg left the popular radio show to host a TV show on ESPN and was replaced by Trey Wingo, who now co-hosts Golic and Wingo in the same time slot.