Mass layoffs at ESPN took place on Tuesday. Longtime host Karl Ravech, “First Take” contributor Cam Newton and senior insider Tom Pelissero were let go alongside several off-air executives and production staff.
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho reacted to the news via X on Tuesday.
“What I’m hearing from ESPN sources is that several of those not getting fired are being told to stay home while those getting fired are blindly coming to work to be let go. Cold world, no blankets,” Acho wrote.
Acho labeled the firing “cold” because Ravech found out about his termination from reporter Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, who called him on Tuesday morning, seeking a comment on the story.
At the time of the call, ESPN had not yet formally notified Ravech that he was being let go as part of their company-wide layoffs. He had just finished calling the Dodgers vs. Phillies game for ESPN the previous evening, completely unaware that his 33-year tenure with the network was coming to an end.
The layoffs at ESPN played out across those two days.
On Monday afternoon, Ryan Clark was informed of his termination during a commercial break of “NFL Live” after news of his impending firing began leaking externally. It led him to abruptly leave midbroadcast.
Amid the layoffs, the news of Pat McAfee’s potential contract extension is also doing rounds.
An X user named Hopey 70, whose bio claims that the person is an Angel Reese “defender” called on viewers to stop watching ESPN on Tuesday.
The Reese fan’s tweet came after a June 9 report in The New York Times surfaced, saying the network is negotiating a lucrative new contract with Pat McAfee.
“Black people, y’all got to let ESPN go,” the user wrote while quote-tweeting a post from the X account LakeShowYo, which highlighted the report.
Senior sports media columnist Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported in a June 9 article published by The New York Times, writing:
“ESPN and representatives for Pat McAfee are discussing an extension to his contract that would pay him more than $60 million per year.”
The report came as ESPN has been cutting jobs following Disney’s acquisition and integration of NFL Network, a move that created overlap in production and broadcast roles. Among those affected were Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech, Tom Pelissero, Stephania Bell and David Lloyd.
That said, neither ESPN nor McAfee has officially announced a new contract.
McAfee signed a five-year, $85 million deal with ESPN on May 31, 2023, after leaving his previous four-year, $120 million contract with FanDuel early.
McAfee played eight NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2016.
Besides firing, ESPN has also finalized contract extensions for Adam Schefter, Tim Tebow, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
ESPN President of Content Reveals Why Adam Schefter Received Contract Extension Beyond 20 Years Amid Layoffs
Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, who joined ESPN in 2009 after working at NFL Network, landed a multi-year contract extension on July 13.
ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus praised Schefter’s ability to break news.
“Adam reaches NFL fans wherever they are — on air, on ESPN Digital and on social — and that multi-platform instinct is a big part of what makes him so valuable to us,” Magnus said.
“His credibility with sources, relentless work ethic and ability to deliver news in real time are second to none,” Magnus added. “Fans know it, the league knows it and we know it. We are thrilled he will continue leading our NFL coverage for years to come.”
Schefter also called the extension the greatest honor of his career.
He also recalled that when he left NFL Network for ESPN in 2009, fellow broadcaster Rich Eisen predicted he would never work anywhere else.
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