Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN next month.

Patrick, a fixture at the sports network for the past 18 years on "SportsCenter" and with his eponymous radio show on ESPN Radio, made the announcement at 1 p.m. on his show, which airs in Milwaukee on WAUK (1510 AM).

Patrick, 51, had hinted toward a major announcement on his radio show last week and then took a few days off to ponder the decision. Patrick denied rumors that he was auditioning to replace Bob Barker as host of "The Price is Right."

Industry sources have said that Patrick has considered working for one of the network morning news shows. There also has been talk that he could take his show to either XM or Sirius satellite radio. Patrick's brother, Bill, is a high-ranking executive with the Sporting News Radio Network.

Patrick's final radio show will air Aug. 17.

"It's been home, but I think I was starting to take it for granted," Patrick said. "We've talked about it. It's time to move on. I hope to be doing radio somehow, somewhere."