Ryan Clark says he was not laid off from ESPN. He was fired.
Clark laid out all of the reasons he believes his departure from ESPN was more of the latter and less of the former on the latest episode of his podcast “The Pivot,” which he hosts with fellow former NFL players Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor.
Advertisement
“They’re using layoffs as a cover and a camouflage for what they already intended on doing,” Clark said. “But there was no cause for it. So because there was no cause for it you couldn’t just fire me, so you had to wait until the layoffs so you could camouflage it and veil it.
“If I was laid off like everybody else, it came out on Tuesday. Mine came out on Friday.”
RYAN CLARK: Former ESPN analyst breaks silence, comments on layoff in series of posts
1 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 26, 2025: NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Isaiah Stanback interview Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
1 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 26, 2025: NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Isaiah Stanback interview Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
2 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 28, 2024: NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo delivers pregame analysis before a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
3 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 5, 2023: NFL Network broadcasters Kimmi Chex and Steve Smith Sr. pose during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
4 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 29, 2023: NFL Network host Chris Rose and analyst Brian Baldinger interview Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and coach Mike McCarthy during training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
5 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 27, 2023: NFL Networks hosts Colleen Wolfe and Kimmi Chex on stage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station in Kansas City.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
6 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
March 2, 2023: NFL Network host Rhett Lewis, analyst Bucky Brooks and draft media analyst Lance Zierlein during the NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
7 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 28, 2022: Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with NFL Network reporter Melissa Stark after being selected as the 14th overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.
(Gary Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
8 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 30, 2022: NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales interviews Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson at Hanbury Manor ahead of the team’s International Series game in London.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
9 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 27, 2018: Steve Mariucci, Reggie Bush and Kurt Warner on the NFL Network set before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
10 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 22, 2018: Chris Rose, Steve Smith Sr., LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before a game between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
11 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Aug. 9, 2017: NFL Network commentator Steve Smith Jr. talks before a preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium.
(Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports)
12 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 30, 2017: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is interviewed by NFL Network sideline reporter Heather Cox during a game against Washington at AT&T Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
13 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 27, 2016: The cast of NFL Network’s “Thursday Night Football” studio show talk before the Tennessee Titans’ game against Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)
14 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 26, 2015: Melissa Stark, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner smile during NFL Network broadcast at the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
15 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 20, 2014: NFL Network broadcasters Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
16 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 25, 2013: Leon Sandcastle of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Sandcastle was a character being played by Deion Sanders.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
17 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 23, 2013: Senior Bowl quarterback EJ Manuel of Florida State talks with NFL Network reporter Rebecca Haarlow a practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
18 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 6, 2013: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Stacy Dales after the Seahawks’ wild-card playoff win over Washington at FedEx Field.
(Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)
19 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 14, 2013: Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans at LP Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
20 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 19, 2013: Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
21 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 20, 2012: NFL Network TV announcers before a “Thursday Night Football” game at Bank of America Stadium.
(Bob Donnan, US PRESSWIRE)
22 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 6, 2012: NFL Network reporter Alex Flanagan interviews Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning after the game against the Oakland Raiders at the O.co Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 26-13.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
23 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 13, 2012: NFL Network broadcasters Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci and Marshall Faulk pose with Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
24 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 9, 2011: NFL Network reporter Sam Wyche interviews Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey after the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Texans, 25-20.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
25 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 24, 2011: NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales interviews Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 16-13 in overtime.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
26 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 19, 2010: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Kara Hendeson during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)
27 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Feb. 4, 2010: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Jim Mora on the set for “NFL Total Access” taping at the Super Bowl XLIV media center at the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
28 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 28, 2009: NFL Network sideline reporter Michelle Beisner before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
(Kyle Terada, US PRESSWIRE)
29 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec 4, 2008: Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, and Marshall Faulk of the NFL Network at a game between the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
30 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 29, 2007: Deion Sanders of NFL Network reports the action from the sidelines during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)
31 / 31
ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Aug. 5, 2007: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roetlisberger is interviewed by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network at the Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
Clark laid out the call he received that he was losing his job at ESPN as part of a podcast episode that served as an emotional reflection about his time at the sports media giant. Clark said his boss told him that they had to let him go when they did – in the middle of an “NFL Live” show – because OutKick was threatening to leak the story first.
Advertisement
The former NFL safety said he believes that the connection to OutKick was a sign that someone at ESPN wanted him gone sooner rather than later. Clark said the sports media company, which is owned by conservative news outlet Fox News, was especially harsh on him in the wake of a controversy last October.
More: Inside ESPN’s decision to tell Ryan Clark he’d be laid off during live show
Ryan Clark addresses incident with Peter Schrager
Regardless of whether Clark was laid off or fired, he made clear on his podcast that he doesn’t believe that an on-air back-and-forth he had with fellow analyst Peter Schrager was the reason why. A report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand from July 20 suggested that “an on- and off-air incident this past season” between Clark and Schrager was reportedly the moment when ESPN executives’ frustration with Clark “peaked.”
Advertisement
The incident in question occurred during a “Get Up” episode after the first game of the 2025 NFL season, when Schrager came to the defense of Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb after a key dropped pass in a Dallas loss. Clark, who disagreed with Schrager’s evaluation, said his fellow analyst’s opinion was coming from “the non-player in you.”
Schrager told Clark not to “belittle” him for having an opinion that differed from the three former NFL players – Clark, as well as Dan Orlovsky and Tedy Bruschi – on the other side of the debate during the show.
Clark responded, “Peter, what I need for you to do is not get mad and let me finish.”
RYAN CLARK LAYOFF: Decision may have been influenced by argument with Peter Schrager
Advertisement
On his podcast, Clark said he felt that he needed to de-escalate the seemingly tense on-air moment. When the show went to commercial break, Clark said he walked off because he was upset about what had happened. At the same time, Schrager was celebrating the segment for its potential as content.
“But I’m already knowing, the [ESPN executive] who loves you don’t love me and they make decisions here, and we just had that happen,” Clark said. “And while he’s celebrating, I’m telling him, ‘Don’t effing disrespect me like that.'”
The former ESPN analyst went on to say that some of his “Get Up” colleagues and producers said they were worried he was “going to get aggressive” after butting heads with Schrager on-air. Clark took offense to that characterization, he said on his podcast.
“The person you’ve been knowing all this time, who never did anything, who’s never had an altercation here, is going to get aggressive from over there?” Clark said. “So now you’re trying to paint this angry Black man trope of me that you know is not true, but I’m starting to feel the narrative. I feel what you’re doing.”
Advertisement
Ultimately, Clark said he and Schrager were able to work through the conflict, which is part of why he doesn’t believe it was at the root of his ESPN departure.
“That was unfortunate, but that’s not why I’m fired,” he said.
Ryan Clark not alone in ESPN departure
Clark was one of various on-air personalities that ESPN let go last week. That group also included long-time MLB broadcaster Karl Ravech and former NFL Media insider Tom Pelissero.
ESPN cited its recently approved acquisition of NFL Network as one key reason for the layoffs in an internal memo obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Advertisement
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in the memo. “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.
“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.”
USA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaca contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Clark says he was fired by ESPN, not laid off, in latest podcast
