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Layoffs at ESPN aren’t uncommon, as the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader In Sports purges its employment rolls from time to time based on a wide variety of reasons.
That includes on-air talent, though it is far rarer to deliver the bad news while said talent is live on the air.
That’s what happened to NFL analyst Ryan Clark, who was reportedly cut loose by ESPN while he was appearing on “NFL Live” on Monday – bringing to an abrupt end his tenure that began after his 13-season NFL career completed in 2014.
The Athletic reported Clark was informed of his termination during Monday’s show after receiving media inquires into his departure and fearing news would reach Clark before they could inform him. The same news outlet reported last week that Clark was among the potential job losses as part of the network’s acquisition of NFL Network.
Clark’s termination is believed to be part of what will be broader cuts at ESPN on Tuesday, which could include a small number of on-air personalities being laid off both at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters along with a larger number of employees, both on- and off-the-air, from NFL Network.
ESPN acquired NFL Network along with other assets in February, a deal that included the network giving the NFL a 10 percent in a deal valued at around $3 billion.
Clark had been with ESPN for more than a decade was slated to be a large part of its Super Bowl LXI coverage in 2027 when the network is set to broadcast the event for the first time.
David Wasson
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.