Al Roker’s rare, deeply personal remarks about his future and family have sent TODAY fans reeling, hinting at truths few have ever heard.QN

Al Roker is reflecting on the future—and on the recent, emotional exit of his Today Show colleague Hoda Kotb—without rushing to any big decisions of his own. Speaking at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, the longtime weatherman said he understands why Kotb chose to step away from her daily role: sometimes you simply “know” when it’s time.

Kotb, 60, announced in late September that she plans to leave the Today show in early 2025 to spend more time with her two young daughters, Haley and Hope. Her announcement, delivered amid tears and the support of co-hosts including Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, made clear that family was the driving force behind her decision. Roker—who has been a fixture on Today since 1996—told PEOPLE he’s delighted for Kotb and said her path resonated with him personally. “I would feel much worse if she was leaving, but she’s just doing something else within our NBC News family,” he said, adding that he’s thrilled for her new chapter.

The conversation turned introspective as Roker considered his own future. At 70, he acknowledged retirement is inevitable but insisted the timing hasn’t arrived for him yet. “You know when you know,” he said. “I don’t feel like that’s my time yet, but who knows. Maybe a year or two. Maybe not, but I’m enjoying it. I love this. You don’t get off the train until the last stop.” Roker reflected on his decades in broadcast news and the small, irreplaceable moments that make parenthood and family life so precious—echoing Kotb’s reasoning about wanting more time for her children.

Roker also talked about his own experiences balancing career and family. He recalled being present for his children during his years in local news and recognized how those formative moments shaped him. “Those moments, those kids grow up. I mean, it’s cliché, but because it’s true. It’s like you blink,” he said, voicing a sentiment many viewers and colleagues have shared since Kotb’s announcement.

Kotb’s decision has prompted an outpouring of support from the television community. Fellow hosts and former colleagues reacted with warmth, while media observers noted the move as part of a broader trend of high-profile broadcasters reevaluating work-life balance. For Kotb, who became a mother through adoption later in life after significant personal challenges, the choice to step back felt deeply personal and rooted in priorities that extend beyond the demands of daytime television.

As Kotb prepares to leave her on-air role but remain within the NBC family, Roker’s comments framed the moment as less an ending than a transition—both for Kotb and for the network. He praised her courage and framed her move as an example of how seasoned journalists can pivot without disappearing entirely from the public sphere.

For viewers, Kotb’s exit raises questions about the future shape of the Today show and who might step into the spaces she leaves behind. For colleagues like Roker, it’s a reminder of the passage of time and the choices that come with it—choices that, he stressed, are best made when they feel right. And in the meantime, he said, he’s focused on doing what he loves, for as long as he’s called to do it.