Why Kristine Leahy Left American Ninja Warrior After Season 10

Kristine Leahy served as a sideline reporter for four seasons, but why did she leave American Ninja Warrior after season 10? NBC’s American Ninja Warrior is a sports competition series that first aired back in 2009 and is still going strong 12 seasons later. Based on the popular Japanese show Sasuke, the series sees contestants at the peak of physical fitness attempt to complete a series of grueling obstacle courses in hopes of nabbing the much-coveted title of “American Ninja Warrior,” plus a hefty cash prize.

Several entertainment and sports personalities have hosted American Ninja Warrior over its 12-season history including Attack Of The Show! correspondent Alison Haislip, mixed martial arts commentator Jimmy Smith and freestyle skier Jonny Moseley. Actor and comedian Matt Iseman of Clean House fame has served as the show’s main host and play-by-play commentator since American Ninja Warrior season 2 and was joined by former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila in season 5, who has acted as co-host and color commentator ever since.

In American Ninja Warrior season 7, Iseman and Gbajabiamila were joined by sports reporter Kristine Leahy who came aboard as a sideline reporter – a role she took over from fellow sports personality Jenn Brown that involves interviewing contestants and providing viewers with an up-close look at the grueling obstacle courses. Leahy’s American Ninja Warrior tenure lasted for four seasons until she left the series after its tenth season aired. She currently ranks as the show’s longest-serving sideline reporter so why did Leahy leave American Ninja Warrior?

Neither Kristine Leahy nor NBC gave a specific reason as to why she left American Ninja Warrior. However, shortly after season 10 concluded in late 2018, Leahy started hosting the Fox Sports 1 talk show Fair Game With Kristine Leahy so it’s likely she simply left for pastures new. She did briefly return to the NBC franchise though, in the 2019 edition of its American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars special which sees teams of contestants handpicked by the hosts go head-to-head in a relay-style competition.

Kristine Leahy’s American Ninja Warrior replacement was Access Hollywood correspondent Zuri Hall who joined the series as its new sideline reporter from season 11. Hall is set to return for American Ninja Warrior’s thirteenth season which is set to premiere in May 2021. The upcoming season will be Hall’s fourth run on the show and if she sticks around for a fifth season, she’ll topple Kristine Leahy’s American Ninja Warrior record as its longest-serving sideline reporter.