ESPN lays off Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech after NFL acquisition

ESPN has laid off longtime NFL analyst Ryan Clark and is expected to part ways with veteran broadcaster Karl Ravech as part of a broad restructuring tied to the company’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to multiple reports. Clark, 46, was informed of his dismissal on Monday, July 20, during a live broadcast of “NFL Live,” a move that drew widespread scrutiny. The network had planned to notify him on Tuesday, July 21, but accelerated the timeline after media inquiries about his status, opting to inform him during a commercial break to prevent him from learning the news online. He did not return to the program. Ravech, 61, who has been with ESPN since 1993, is expected to be among those let go on Tuesday, though he had not been officially notified as of the morning. The Athletic reported that Ravech called Monday night’s MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, apparently unaware it would be his final broadcast.

The departures are part of a wave of layoffs affecting both on-air personalities and behind-the-scenes staff, with the most significant reductions occurring at NFL Network. Earlier this year, ESPN finalized a $3 billion deal to acquire NFL...