For the first time in three years, ESPN is carrying out a significant wave of job cuts — and the primary driver is the network’s recent takeover of NFL Network.
In a memo sent to staff Tuesday morning and obtained by The Associated Press, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed that the majority of the cuts are connected to the company’s acquisition of NFL Network and other league digital properties last year.
The deal, which was first announced last August, also brought ESPN control of NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel through cable and satellite providers. As part of the agreement, the NFL received a 10% ownership stake in ESPN.
Federal regulators gave the deal the green light in January, and NFL Network staff officially became ESPN employees on April 1.
In his memo, Pitaro explained the reasoning behind the decisions: “Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN. 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.”
He added: “While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”
Although the cuts largely hit production and behind-the-scenes workers, some on-air faces were also affected. NFL analyst Ryan Clark, who joined ESPN in 2015, found out about his dismissal while he was actually on the air during “NFL Live” on Monday. According to a source familiar with the matter, Clark had originally been scheduled to be informed Tuesday morning, but news of the decision leaked early. Company executives then told Clark directly rather than let him find out through outside reports. He did not complete his appearance on the program.
The source spoke anonymously, citing restrictions on discussing personnel matters.
Clark addressed the situation on social media Tuesday, even sharing a video of himself exercising. In a post on X, he wrote: “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!”
Among the other well-known names caught up in the cuts is Karl Ravech, a longtime ESPN baseball voice who had been with the network since 1993. Ravech served as the anchor of “Sunday Night Baseball” from 2022 through 2025, before that broadcast package shifted to NBC this season. He did call Monday night’s contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Tom Pelissero, who had been part of NFL Network since 2017, is also among those losing their positions. The cuts come even as ESPN recently extended contracts with NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.
The ESPN layoffs are part of a broader round of reductions happening across the Walt Disney Company this week.
