ESPN continues to lay waste to the sports media landscape by continuing with its round of layoffs following a high-profile acquisition of NFL Network.
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The broadcaster cut ties with several reporters and on-air personalities on Monday and Tuesday, starting with longtime analyst Ryan Clark. ESPN then let go NFL Network mainstays Charles Davis and Tom Pelissero, according to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand.
Pelissero has long worked for NFL Network while joining forces with Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo to form "The Insiders." He has broken countless stories over the years, and he has contributed to on-air coverage throughout the NFL calendar.
Once ESPN acquired NFL Network and paired Rapoport with Adam Schefter, Pelissero seemingly became dispensable.
Davis, much like Pelissero has been a staple on the football-centric channel. He has provided extensive analysis during coverage of the NFL Draft. He also works for CBS while broadcasting college football and NFL games. He will retain this role after being laid off by ESPN.
"Charles Davis is the definition of class," NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah posted on X. "You won't find a better teammate or a better broadcaster. His preparation is unmatched & his kindness is legendary.
"My kids always call him Uncle Charles when they see him on TV. He sent me a handwritten note before & after each draft over our 14 years together at NFLN. I love him."
The other announced layoffs included former NFL MVP Cam Newton, longtime SportsCenter personality David Lloyd, injury expert Stephania Bell, former NFL linebacker Bart Scott, and Major League Baseball mainstay Karl Ravech.
This current round is not the first time that ESPN has cut ties with several prominent on-air personalities and people behind the scenes. A chart posted on Tuesday showed that the network laid off 400 employees in 2013, 350 in 2015, 100 in April 2017, 150 in November 2017, 300 in 2020, 20 (on-air personalities) in 2023, and 30 in spring 2026.
Samantha Ponder, Robert Griffin III, and Zach Lowe all also chose to depart the network in 2024.
Pat McAfee, meanwhile, remains safe at ESPN. Back in early June, The Athletic actually revealed that the on-air personality was negotiating a deal that would pay him $60 million annually.
