Former NFL safety-turned-analyst Ryan Clark received an unfortunate piece of news on Monday. While on-air during the “NFL Live” show, he learned about ESPN’s decision to fire him from his position as an analyst.
This abrupt end to his relationship with ESPN triggered Emmanuel Acho. The ex-linebacker shared a video on X, going on a rant about the way Clark was laid off from his job. He also called out ESPN executives as “cowards” for not dealing with the situation in a more professional manner.
“It’s time to talk about this Ryan Clark firing,” Acho said. “Number one, objectively, he’s a good analyst. Why? He’s brought NFL Live to an Emmy Awards of which they had never won before. … So I understand the fans more than anything. We value your opinions. We make the shows for you all.
“But regardless of whether you think he’s great or you think he’s terrible, … firing a man during his show that he’s helped bring an Emmy Award is wild. Why did they say they did it? Because they didn’t want him to find out on social media. So you fire him during the show and pull him during the last 10 minutes of a segment?
“I digress. … More often than not, executives are cowards. … Just tell it to us. … With that being said, note for anybody who wants to get into sports television, start to create your own show so you can’t be fired.”
Ryan Clark spent 13 years playing in the NFL. He signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002. In 2008, he was a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers team that won Super Bowl XLIII.
In 2015, Clark announced his retirement decision. He then began his broadcasting journey with ESPN that same year.
NFL insider gets honest about Ryan Clark’s firing by ESPN
According to The Athletic’s reports, Clark’s live altercation with Peter Schrager last September was one of the factors influencing his layoff. The two analysts got into a short, heated exchange after Clark questioned Schrager’s take while labeling him as a “non-player.”
This did not sit well with the analyst, who asked Clark not to “belittle” him. The ex-safety later apologized for his actions. On Monday, NFL insider John Frascella stated that Clark’s firing took place because journalism was moving on from sensationalism to objective value addition.
“Just my 2 cents, Ryan Clark practices a style of journalism which is really just sensationalism,” Frascella said. “Just my opinion, this style is a relic of a time gone by.
“I think NFL consumers nowadays want value-add analysis they can either agree or disagree with, respectfully & professionally. The wanna feel like they are listening to a smart buddy. Not someone looking to divide the audience.”
During his stint with ESPN, Ryan Clark appeared on various shows such as NFL Live, SportsCenter, First Take, and Get Up, to name a few.
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