ABC’s Matt Gutman Jumps Ship to CBS as Anchor Shake-Up Deepens
ABC’s Matt Gutman is reportedly jumping to CBS just as Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson exit, igniting a shake-up and fresh speculation over who will claim the CBS Evening News chair.
ABC stalwart Matt Gutman is reportedly heading to CBS just as two familiar faces walk out the door. The timing is messy, the rumors are louder than the facts, and CBS hasn’t said who is actually taking the CBS Evening News chair. Here’s what’s real right now.
The move: Gutman to CBS (but in what role?)
The Los Angeles Times reported on December 6, 2025 that Gutman is leaving ABC to join CBS. That part seems solid. What isn’t locked yet: whether he’s being brought in to anchor CBS Evening News or to report. Despite a lot of chatter about him sliding into the anchor seat, the reporting points to him joining as a correspondent, at least for now. Translation: big move, exact job TBD.
Why this is notable
The move is being framed as the first major on-air hire by CBS News’ new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, who took the job in October. That’s an eyebrow-raiser on its own, and it tells you how much CBS is retooling behind the scenes.
Gutman’s track record at ABC
Gutman has been with ABC since 2008 and has been a steady presence across ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Nightline, and 20/20. He also had a couple of very public stumbles: he was suspended in 2020 after incorrectly reporting that all of Kobe Bryant’s children had died in the helicopter crash, and suspended again in 2021 for violating Disney’s COVID-19 policies when he visited a Los Angeles hospital without prior sign-off.
The exits fueling the speculation
Two key names tied to CBS Evening News are out. John Dickerson announced his departure on Instagram on October 27 without giving a reason, wrapping up a 16-year run at CBS. Then, on December 4, his co-anchor Maurice DuBois posted his own emotional goodbye on Instagram. Put those together and you get a big hole at the top of CBS’s nightly broadcast.
So who is anchoring CBS Evening News?
CBS hasn’t said. If Gutman isn’t the pick, they still need to replace both Dickerson and DuBois on CBS Evening News. Until the network confirms a lineup, assume the game of musical chairs is still in progress.
- Oct 27: John Dickerson announces he’s leaving CBS on Instagram after 16 years.
- Oct: Bari Weiss takes over as CBS News editor-in-chief, per the reports framing this reshuffle.
- Dec 4: Maurice DuBois announces his own departure on Instagram.
- Dec 6: LA Times reports Matt Gutman is leaving ABC for CBS, with current reporting indicating a correspondent role rather than the anchor chair.
Bottom line: Gutman’s jump is real, the anchor decision isn’t, and CBS is in the middle of a very public reset. Stay tuned for the actual names on the desk.