ESPN is letting go of several popular on-air personalities as part of cost-cutting measures at its parent company, Disney.
These layoffs come after ESPN took over the NFL’s media operations in an agreement where the league received a $3 billion investment for a 10% ownership stake. According to a memo from ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro sent to employees on Tuesday, most of these cuts are related to acquiring NFL Network.
We’ve spent the last few months combining the NFL properties we recently acquired with ESPN. During this time, we’ve been carefully reviewing our combined teams, resources, and how we’re organized to make sure we’re set up for success moving forward, as Pitaro explained.
The company is facing financial challenges due to the increasing cost of broadcasting live sports. While ESPN’s revenue increased slightly to $4.6 billion in the latest quarter, operating income fell by 5% compared to last year. ESPN’s new streaming service, intended to reduce reliance on traditional cable TV subscriptions, is still developing and hasn’t yet fully offset those losses.
Ryan Clark, an NFL analyst and former player for the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers, lost his job at ESPN on Monday. News of the layoffs, including his, became public during a live broadcast of “NFL Live,” which he was appearing on at the time. He had been with ESPN since 2015.
Clark frequently appeared on ESPN’s NFL programs like “NFL Live,” “First Take,” “Get Up,” and “Monday Night Countdown.” He was a well-known and regular part of their coverage.
Clark expressed sympathy for everyone affected by the layoffs at ESPN, writing on X, “Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today.” She acknowledged the dedication many had shown to the company, adding, “I know how you’re feeling right now.”
Hollywood Inc.
You know, as a huge sports fan, I’ve been hearing ESPN’s president, James Pitaro, talk a lot lately about really connecting directly with viewers – and it’s not just business for him! He even says he tries to do that at home with his own family. It’s cool to see someone in charge thinking about fans as individuals, not just numbers.
Front Office Sports reports that recent layoffs have impacted several well-known sports personalities, including Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (since 2017), Stephania Bell – who analyzed NFL injuries for ESPN’s fantasy and betting content as a licensed physical therapist – Charles Davis, a veteran NFL Network analyst, and Bart Scott, an NFL commentator and co-host on ESPN Radio.
The recent layoffs at ESPN are affecting more than just on-air sports analysts. Karl Ravech, who has worked at the network for 33 years, is leaving. He was a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball and college basketball, and also hosted the show “Baseball Tonight.”
Ravech called ESPN’s coverage of the Los Angeles Dodgers-Philadelphia Phillies game on Monday.
David Lloyd, a familiar face as a “SportsCenter” host, has left ESPN. He originally joined the network in 1997 as an anchor for ESPNEWS.
An ESPN representative declined comment on the cuts.
ESPN is facing challenges like many businesses, but continues to invest significantly in popular on-air personalities who attract large viewerships for its studio programs. For example, Stephen A. Smith, host of “First Take,” recently signed a contract worth approximately $20 million annually.
ESPN is also looking to give Pat McAfee, currently making around $30 million annually, an even more lucrative contract. Meanwhile, Adam Schefter—the network’s top NFL news reporter who was earning $9 million per year—just signed a new long-term agreement.
2026-07-21 20:02