This week, ESPN had another round of layoffs, and a notable figure affected was Ryan Clark. He learned about losing his job while on air during “NFL Live” on Monday, July 20. Clark, a former NFL defensive back with a Super Bowl win under his belt from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joined ESPN after his retirement in February 2015. He became a regular presence on shows like “NFL Live,” “Get Up,” “First Take,” and “Monday Night Countdown.”
Clark shared details about his firing on “The Pivot Podcast,” which he co-hosts with former NFL players Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. He stated, “I wasn’t laid off; I was fired,” addressing the emotional aspect of his departure. Despite being central to ESPN’s NFL coverage as they prepare to broadcast the Super Bowl for the first time, Clark suspected the company wanted to end his association for some time.
He noticed he was not included in promotional materials for ESPN’s “Year of the Super Bowl” initiative and was absent from Pat McAfee’s charity event involving “NFL Live.” Last summer, Stephen A. Smith informed Clark that a particular executive disliked him, something Clark had been aware of for years.
“They’re using ‘layoffs’ as a cover and camouflage for what they already intended on doing,” Clark said. “Because there was no cause for it, you couldn’t just fire me, so you had to wait until the layoffs to camouflage it.”
Andrew Marchand from The Athletic reported that ESPN executives had soured on Clark due to unspecified “choices,” including a disagreement on air with Peter Schrager last September. Clark clarified that the incidents with Schrager and McAfee were not related to his firing. He pointed to a small group of executives who opposed his advocacy for racial justice and community support. Clark stressed that it was these select few, not his colleagues, who wanted him out.
When asked by Taylor about regrets, Clark became emotional. He expressed pride in representing his community, stating, “When I see people in public, like OGs and aunties and stuff, and they tell me they’re proud of me… I wouldn’t change anything because that means the world to me. When I go home… I wouldn’t change that. Never.”
However, Clark admitted to some regrets when considering his career. “The first Monday of football, when my friends do something we did special together, I’d probably change it. I’d work harder to be who they wanted.” Clark acknowledged seeing less talented people succeed due to building relationships at the executive level.
He said, “I see people on TV who aren’t better than me, but I’ve never been at those tables.” But he realized that being true to himself was more important, even if it meant losing his platform. “If I can’t prove that [changing would help], I would’ve hated to be fired being something I wasn’t.”
Clark voiced his affection for his job and expressed condolences for colleagues who also lost their positions.