The first issue, with the cover line "NEXT.," was published on March 11, 1998 (cover date March 23, 1998), and featured Kobe Bryant of the NBA, MLB's Alex Rodriguez, Kordell Stewart of the NFL, and Eric Lindros of the NHL.

[2][3][4] Initially published every other week, it scaled back to 24 issues a year in early 2016, then became a monthly in its later days.

On April 30, 2019, ESPN announced that it would cease paper publishing in September of that year.

The Big Ticket, similar to The Jump, was introduced when ESPN The Magazine became a monthly in Fall 2018.

[8] Gary Belsky, ESPN The Magazine's editor in chief at the time, described the "Body Issue" in terms that suggested it was a celebration and exploration of the athletic form.