In an internal memo released to news outlets Monday morning, Holt — who turns 66 in March — said that after "10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News." No replacement was announced.

In a statement, Llamas said anchoring the "Nightly News" is a "profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility."

Lester Holt is feeling the love from his NBC family after announcing his exit from NBC Nightly News. Several Today hosts took to social media to honor the former Weekend Today coanchor after news of his Nightly News departure broke on Monday, February 24. “Congrats to @lesterholtnbc on an amazing decade and the new chapter