ESPN cuts analyst Ryan Clark during live NFL program amid broader Disney layoffs
ESPN informed NFL analyst Ryan Clark of his termination during a live broadcast of "NFL Live," part of a larger round of layoffs affecting on-air talent at the network and its parent company Disney.
ESPN told NFL analyst Ryan Clark that his employment was ending while he was on air during Monday's "NFL Live" program, according to reporting by The Athletic. The network had originally planned to notify Clark on Tuesday morning, but media inquiries prompted a change to avoid him learning of the decision online first.
Clark, a former Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning safety who joined ESPN as an analyst in 2015, was earning more than $2 million annually under a contract signed in February 2024. He had been slated to contribute to ESPN's upcoming Super Bowl coverage, the first time the event will air on the network.
The layoff is part of a broader set of reductions scheduled for Tuesday that will affect both ESPN and NFL Network staff, as Disney, the parent company, implements a larger restructuring. Earlier reports indicated that the cuts could involve both on-camera and behind-the-scenes personnel following the ESPN-NFL Network merger.
"We are making difficult decisions to align our resources with the evolving media landscape," a Disney spokesperson said.
The move follows speculation about Clark's job security that began after the February Super Bowl.