ESPN has initiated its first major round of layoffs in three years, following its acquisition of NFL Network in April. The cuts, confirmed in a memo from chairman Jimmy Pitaro on Tuesday, primarily affect production and behind-the-scenes personnel, though some on-air talent have also been impacted.
Ryan Clark informed during live broadcast
NFL analyst Ryan Clark, who joined ESPN in 2015, learned of his layoff while appearing on NFL Live on Monday. According to a person familiar with the situation, Clark was originally scheduled to be notified Tuesday morning, but reports of the decision leaked early. Company executives informed him directly, and he did not finish his on-air segment. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss personnel matters.
Clark addressed the layoffs on social media Tuesday, writing on X: "Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN. So many of you have poured your life into that company, + I know how you’re feeling right now. My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!" He also shared a video of himself working out.
Other notable departures
Longtime ESPN baseball commentator Karl Ravech, who had been with the network since 1993 and was the voice of Sunday Night Baseball from 2022-25, is also among those let go. He called Monday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Additionally, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, who joined in 2017, is part of the cuts. ESPN had recently signed insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter to extensions. Fox News reported that former NFL MVP Cam Newton was released just one year after signing a contract extension.
Layoffs tied to NFL Network integration
Pitaro’s memo, obtained by the Associated Press, stated that most job impacts are a result of ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and other league digital assets, which was announced last August. The deal also included NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute RedZone to cable and satellite operators. In return, the NFL received a 10% equity stake in ESPN. Government regulators approved the transaction in January, and NFL Network employees officially became part of ESPN on April 1.
"Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN," Pitaro wrote. "Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today."
Broader Disney cuts
Pitaro added that while most layoffs are tied to the acquisition, other positions across the company are also being eliminated. "We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition," he said. The ESPN cutbacks are part of broader reductions occurring throughout the Walt Disney Company this week.
