Jimmy Kimmel weighs retirement as his ABC deal nears its final year

May 2027 is the date hanging over Jimmy Kimmel's future in late-night television. The 58-year-old host says he worries that walking away from Jimmy Kimmel Live! could leave him wishing he had stayed, while his wife and executive producer Molly McNearney admits retirement would bring relief at home. Their comments on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast show that Kimmel's next career decision is no longer simply about fatigue or contract negotiations.

The Story at a Glance

Kimmel's current ABC contract runs through May 2027 after he signed a one-year extension with Disney in December. He has considered leaving before, including ahead of the three-year agreement he signed in 2022, but his latest comments suggest the decision has become more complicated.

During his Armchair Expert appearance, Kimmel said he now feels a responsibility to viewers who see the show as an outlet for their frustration about current events. At the same time, he openly acknowledged his fear that retirement could be followed by regret.

Yeah, I do.

He also made clear that leaving Jimmy Kimmel Live! would not mean disappearing from public life. Kimmel said he is “never going to stop doing things,” describing retirement as potentially moving into a different kind of work rather than stopping altogether.

How the Story Developed

Kimmel has been debating his late-night future for years. In 2021, he told Howard Stern he was “vacillating” about another contract before ultimately signing a three-year deal in 2022. Last December, he extended his relationship with Disney by another year, taking the show through May 2027.

That extension came after a turbulent period. Multiple provided reports say Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended for six days in September 2025 following Kimmel's remarks after the killing of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel later returned to the program and said it had never been his intention to make light of the murder.

More recently, Kimmel told Vulture that ABC had not begun discussions with him about what would follow the current agreement. He also connected his uncertainty to the end of Stephen Colbert's Late Show, saying that development made him feel as though he was looking at his own future.

The new podcast conversation adds another layer: Kimmel is no longer describing retirement only as an escape from the nightly workload. He is weighing the possibility that leaving could mean giving up a platform he believes still serves a purpose.

Key People and Details

McNearney is central to the decision both personally and professionally. She is Kimmel's wife, co-head writer and executive producer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, giving her a view of the show's pressures from inside the production and inside their household.

It definitely appeals to me for the nervous system of the household.

McNearney said she could imagine Kimmel relaxing with “a fly rod in one hand and a torch in the other,” but she also believes his television voice remains valuable. She said she would be comfortable ending her own run on the show and pursuing something new, while still caring deeply about the staff and the program.

The immediate timeline is straightforward: Kimmel remains under contract until May 2027. What happens after that has not been settled in the material provided.

Reaction and Response

McNearney's response captures the tension surrounding the decision better than a simple yes-or-no retirement question. She wants Kimmel to have the chance to relax, but she also described a desire for him to keep using the show because she believes viewers feel represented by it.

Kimmel's own concern points in the opposite direction. He said he has watched people dramatically retire and then return in a diminished attempt to recreate what they left behind. That possibility appears to be influencing how carefully he approaches the end of his current contract.

What to Watch

The biggest unresolved question is whether ABC and Kimmel will discuss another agreement before May 2027. The provided reporting says those talks had not yet begun when Kimmel recently discussed his future.

A second question is what Kimmel means by retirement if he does leave Jimmy Kimmel Live!. His comments suggest he could remain active in other projects, but no specific post-show plans are identified in the supplied sources. For Canadian viewers who follow U.S. late-night television, the decision could mark another major change in a format already facing high-profile departures.

FAQ

Is Jimmy Kimmel retiring from Jimmy Kimmel Live!?

No retirement has been announced. Kimmel is openly discussing the possibility and says he worries he could regret leaving.

When does Jimmy Kimmel's current ABC contract end?

His current agreement runs through May 2027 after a one-year extension signed with Disney in December.

Why is Jimmy Kimmel less certain about retiring?

Kimmel says he increasingly views the show as an outlet for viewers who are frustrated by current events, giving him a non-financial reason to continue.

What does Molly McNearney think about Kimmel retiring?

She is torn. McNearney says retirement would help the household relax, but she also believes Kimmel's voice and the show's role remain important.

Would Jimmy Kimmel stop working completely after retirement?

Kimmel says no. He said he is “never going to stop doing things,” indicating that leaving the nightly show could lead to different projects rather than full retirement.