Al Roker has long been a fixture of American morning television, and as he celebrated his 70th birthday in 2024, fans began to ask a question that had been quietly looming for years: when will he retire? For decades, Al has been the smiling, steady presence on the TODAY Show, helping millions of viewers start their mornings with weather updates, warmth, and good humor. His association with NBC began all the way back in 1978, when he joined WKYC in Cleveland. By 1996, he had cemented his place as the full-time weatherman on TODAY, and from that point forward, he became not just a part of the show, but an icon within the greater tapestry of American broadcasting.
Al’s personal reflections on retirement, however, offer a glimpse into a man who is still deeply passionate about his work. In interviews dating back to 2023, not long after a serious health scare involving surgery for blood clots, Al emphasized how grateful he felt to return to the studio. Rather than speaking about slowing down, he expressed even greater enthusiasm. “I’m more passionate about the job than when I started,” he told Entertainment Tonight. He recounted how his father, a transit worker, chose to retire at 55 when he stopped enjoying his job. Al, by contrast, remains energized by the unpredictability and joy of live television. “How do you give up something like this?” he asked. “Every day is a different day.” His love for the audience, the crew, and the producers is apparent. To Al, the TODAY Show is more than just a workplace—it’s a vibrant, evolving community he’s proud to be part of.
Despite numerous changes to the show, including Hoda Kotb’s departure from her hosting duties in early 2025, Al has maintained a grounded and optimistic outlook. He often refers to the TODAY team as a “family,” and in his own words, Hoda’s exit was more of a transition than a farewell. “She’s not leaving the family,” he said. His perspective underscores a broader understanding that the show must continue to evolve, and its longevity depends on that adaptability. “Each one of us is very fortunate to be in this position, for however long we have,” he said. “And then we pass the baton off to somebody else.”
That sense of responsibility and respect for legacy is part of why Al doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. When speaking with People magazine, he remarked, “You know when you know,” referencing both Hoda’s decision and the more general sense of timing that comes with retirement. “Everybody has a reason that they decide it’s time to go,” he said, referencing figures like President Joe Biden to illustrate how personal and varied those decisions can be. For Al, the moment hasn’t arrived yet. “I don’t feel like that’s my time yet,” he said. “But who knows. Maybe a year or two. Maybe not.”
Even as speculation has increased, Al continues to show his dedication to the craft. Ahead of his coverage of the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, he told Parade with a laugh: “They will have to drag me out of here screaming and kicking.” That irreverent but sincere comment captures the essence of Al Roker’s personality—grounded, enthusiastic, and clearly not ready to exit stage left.
What’s especially striking is Al’s enduring belief in the power of the TODAY Show to adapt and thrive, regardless of who is at the helm. He’s seen many anchors come and go, subbed in for others, and weathered both personal health battles and cultural changes within the newsroom. Through it all, he has remained a constant, reinforcing the show’s core values of resilience, authenticity, and connection.
And perhaps that’s why retirement, for Al Roker, isn’t something to rush. As he once put it, “You don’t get off the train until the last stop.” For him, that train still has miles to go, and for viewers across the country, that means more mornings with Al—rain or shine.
Leave a Reply