Beloved 'Today' Anchor Peter Alexander, 49, Leaves NBC After Nearly 22 Years of Work – Details

 

For years, the weekend anchor seemed locked into one of NBC's most familiar seats. But behind that polished exit was a growing personal strain and fresh signs of career restlessness.

Peter Alexander, 49, announced on March 28, 2026, that he is leaving NBC News after nearly 22 years with the network, ending a run that included his role as co-host of "Saturday TODAY."

While he revealed the official reason behind this departure on air, which was all about his personal life, an outlet has reported on his real frustration regarding his job. And another has already discovered where he's going next.

A Farewell That Put Family First

On air, Alexander made clear that his daughters were central to his decision. As Today reported, he told viewers, "I've been away from home more than 80 nights in the last seven months. More than 200 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years."

He then explained exactly why that had become too much to ignore. "So, in this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me...I'm eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives," he said.

He was talking about Ava and Emma Alexander, his daughters with WJLA anchor Alison Starling.

During the farewell, his colleagues spoke up. Laura Jarrett expressed the team's deep affection for him and noted how much they would miss his presence. She also praised him as both a brilliant journalist and a man of high character.

Jarrett even specifically highlighted his role as a parent, telling him that while he has a long career, he only gets one chance to raise his daughters.

Alexander also talked about what NBC had meant to him during those years. "It's hard to believe, but I have been part of the NBC family for longer than I've had my own family," he said.

Then, he added:

"Studio 1A, being right here, with this team and with all the folks you don't see on TV, this is literally my happy place."

The Career He Built at NBC

Alexander stood out as one of the most prominent journalists at the network. After joining NBC News in 2004, his assignments frequently took him into the field.

Some of his most important projects include his extensive coverage of major global events, like the 2005 Iraqi election and the death of Osama bin Laden, as well as his reporting from locations like Beijing, Banda Aceh, and Baghdad.

And the news anchor eventually became a staple of the White House briefing room. Between 2012 and 2026, he covered four different presidential administrations. By 2021, he stepped into the role of NBC's co-chief White House correspondent alongside Kristen Welker.

His "Saturday TODAY" role added another major piece to that profile. Alexander began his tenure with the program in October 2018. He later shared hosting duties with Welker from 2020 until 2023, at which point she transitioned to her new role moderating "Meet the Press."

Following her departure, he anchored alongside Jarrett, who moved to NBC in January 2023 to serve as a senior legal correspondent. That meant Alexander was still holding a visible role at the network right up to his announcement.

During his 20th anniversary with the network in August 2024, the news anchor said, "I really feel like we have a higher responsibility doing this for a living. Being journalists, you have the trust of the audience, the trust of the people whose stories you're telling. That's something that I take so seriously."

At the time, he also explained that he had "never imagined being a political reporter." He called his "Saturday TODAY" colleagues his "closest friends," which adds more weight to the fact that he still chose to leave.

Still, family always has to come first.

The Family Life Behind the Decision

While his decision has come as a shock, the journalist has always placed a huge importance on his home life.

In a profile, Alexander spoke about his wife, Starling, and their daughters. He described the kind of presence he wanted to have when he was actually home, and his advice to other working parents was direct:

"Put your phone down. Easier said than done, but being truly present for 20 minutes is better than being distracted for an hour."

Reflecting on the importance of dedicated time with his girls, Alexander emphasized that small, everyday moments meant the most to him. One favorite memory involved his daughter Ava, who loved driving around with the windows rolled down while playfully calling out for more wind.

The same profile also included the story of how he and Alison got together. They were apparently rivals in competing Seattle news stations 15 years ago, and she had ignored his advances for nearly ten years until he eventually convinced her to give him a chance.

While family is a vital part of his life, another factor allegedly played a role in his decision to leave.

The Other Reason That Surfaced After the Goodbye

According to Page Six, Alexander was leaving because he wanted more time with his children. But the outlet also noted his frustration regarding his career growth. He felt tired of NBC passing him over for lead roles on their high-profile broadcasts, such as "Nightly News" and "Today."

A source revealed, "He'd be the first to say he's had ambitions for the top anchor jobs, and with all of those spots recently filled, he's going to try something new."

And it looks like he will be fulfilling his ambitions soon enough somewhere else.

What Comes Next

The Los Angeles Times stated that Alexander is leaving NBC News to join MS NOW as an anchor and chief national reporter. The report indicates that he will host a daily weekday show while managing the network's breaking news reports as they happen.

The same source mentioned that he will likely take over the 11 a.m. Eastern time slot, replacing Ana Cabrera once the network updates its daytime schedule this June.

His deal with Versant is also said to give him the chance to contribute to sports coverage on USA Network and Golf Channel.

That move carries broader significance because MS NOW is the cable channel formerly known as MSNBC. After the split from Comcast into the new company Versant, MS NOW ended its relationship with NBC News, and journalists who had worked across both sides had to choose where they wanted to stay.

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According to the report, Alexander is the first journalist to make the move from NBC News to MS NOW since the two divisions separated.

The LA Times also observed that while Jacob Soboroff and Ken Dilanian transitioned from NBC News to MS NOW, Steve Kornacki remained at NBC News due to his ongoing responsibilities with NBC Sports.

Meanwhile, Willie Geist stands out as a unique case, as he maintains his role as a co-host on "Morning Joe" while simultaneously anchoring "Sunday Today."

Why His Exit Landed the Way It Did

By the time the fuller picture came into view, Alexander's departure had two clear reasons attached to it. One came directly from him. The other came from reporting that surfaced after his sign-off.

He said the job had taken him away from home too often, especially on Friday nights, and he tied that directly to the time he still has with Ava and Emma.

The other reports added that he had also grown tired of being passed over for the top anchor jobs he wanted. Taken together, those two reasons explain why this was not only an emotional goodbye but also a professional turning point.

After nearly 22 years at NBC, Alexander left as a journalist with a long résumé, a visible role, and a personal reason he no longer wanted to push aside. At the same time, the anchor already has a reported next move ahead, so his admirers won't have to miss him at all.