Report: ESPN cuts ties with Ryan Clark

In a surprising move that came seemingly out of nowhere, ESPN reportedly has cut ties with NFL analyst Ryan Clark.

The news comes courtesy of Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.

Clark, who began appearing on ESPN while still playing in the NFL, became a full-time ESPN personality following his retirement from football after the 2014 season. He had signed his current contract in February 2024.

As Marchand explains it, Clark was expected “to be a large part” of ESPN’s Super Bowl LXI coverage (ESPN is televising the game, if you haven’t heard it 1,000 times). Instead, Clark is among the first wave of ESPN layoffs that are expected to happen later this week.

Clark also hosts The Pivot podcast and Inside The NFL, which moved to The CW in 2023 and, as of last year, became an original series on Twitter.

The move comes at a time when ESPN has been extending plenty of on-air contracts for both ESPN and NFL Network employees. And at a time when ESPN is reportedly preparing to bump former NFL player Pat McAfee’s compensation north of $60 million annually.