WPTA Sports Director Dean Pantazi has been with the Ft. Wayne station for 46 years and it appears that he is slowly making his way to the exit.

The station announced that Pantazi has signed a new deal, but will “assume a new role this summer.”

The station says that in 2019, Pantazi approached WPTA management to express his desire to make the change and to reduce his role at the evening sports anchor desk in the year ahead. It is expected to take place in July.

“Dean’s remarkable career may be at a crossroads, but we’re ecstatic that he has chosen to extend his time with us and with the entire Fort Wayne sports community,” said Jonathan Shelley, News Director for WPTA.

So was this really his choice, or was management pushing him in that direction.

Sadly, since this is the world of TV news, we will likely never know the real answer.

But hey, Pantazi has worked at the station for over 4 decades and whether he was pushed or decided on his own, that is a hell of an accomplishment.

Just saying…