Tom Brokaw is still here. For a guy who spent half a century telling us what was happening in the world, his own story has become the one people keep checking in on. Honestly, whenever a legendary name like Brokaw starts trending, there is that collective "oh no" moment. But in 2026, the update is more about resilience than a final sign-off.
He is 85 now. Think about that. He’s outlived his "Big Three" contemporaries, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather (who is still active in his own right, but no longer on the main desk). Brokaw isn't anchoring the Nightly News anymore—he retired from NBC in 2021 after a staggering 55-year run—but he hasn't exactly vanished into the Montana sunset.
The Reality of Living with Multiple Myeloma
Most people searching for how is Tom Brokaw today are really asking about his health. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma back in 2013. That’s a nasty, incurable blood cancer that messes with your bone marrow.
He's been dealing with this for over a decade. Most doctors didn't think he’d make it this far. He’s been very open about the "sophisticated guesswork" involved in his treatment. It isn't just one pill and you're done. It’s a cocktail. For a long time, his "bomb" was a drug called Revlimid.
"The key is doing everything in your power to manage it," Brokaw told CBS Sunday Morning in a sit-down that really humanized the whole ordeal. He’s had the bad days—compression fractures in his spine, infections that landed him in emergency care, and times when he literally couldn't get out of bed.
But he’s still standing. Or, more accurately, he’s still walking his dog, Sage, around Central Park.
Life After the NBC Newsroom
When he finally walked away from NBC in 2021, it wasn't a clean break. He admitted it was painful. You don't spend 55 years in a building and just leave without feeling a bit "unmoored."
These days, his pace is different.
- He wakes up around 6:30 AM.
- He still reads about six newspapers a day (the old-school habit never dies).
- He listens to a ton of NPR and talk radio.
- He spends time with his wife, Meredith, and their grandkids.
He also released a book recently titled Never Give Up: A Prairie Family’s Story. It’s a love letter to his South Dakota roots and his parents. It’s not a "news" book. It’s a "who am I" book. It shows a guy who has moved past the need to explain the world and is now just trying to understand his own place in it.
What You Might Have Missed Recently
There’s a misconception that he’s totally bedridden. He’s not. While his public appearances are rare and he’s definitely thinner than he was in his "Greatest Generation" prime, he still pops up in documentaries and occasional interviews.
He’s become a sort of unofficial elder statesman for the myeloma community. He jokes that it’s like a club you never wanted to join, but once you're in, you start comparing notes with strangers on what meds they're taking. He’s used his platform to push for more affordable cancer care, acknowledging that he has the kind of resources most people don't.
Why Tom Brokaw Still Matters in 2026
We live in a world of "fake news" and 24-hour shouting matches. Brokaw represents a time when the news felt like a shared reality. Whether you liked his politics or not, you trusted that he was trying to "get it right," which was his stated goal on his final broadcast in 2004.
His health today is a testament to modern medicine, sure, but also to a certain prairie toughness. He doesn't want pity. He’s still sharp, still opinionated, and still very much engaged with the country he covered for decades.
How is Tom Brokaw today? He’s managing. He’s aging. He’s surviving a disease that was supposed to take him years ago.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Supporters
If you're following Brokaw's journey or dealing with similar health battles, here are some practical takeaways from his experience:
- Take an active role: Brokaw constantly tells patients to be their own advocates. Don't just sit there; ask questions about your "cocktail" of meds.
- Stay connected: He credits his family and his long-time friends (like Jane Pauley) for keeping him grounded.
- Keep the mind moving: Reading those six newspapers isn't just a habit; it’s cognitive exercise.
- Look into the PROMISE Study: This is something Brokaw has supported—it's a screening program for people at risk for multiple myeloma. Early detection is everything.
The "luckiest guy I know"—as he often calls himself—is still here, proving that a terminal diagnosis doesn't have to be the end of the story. It’s just a very difficult middle chapter.