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Some Thoughts on Another Rough Round of ESPN Layoffs (UPDATED)

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jul 21st, 2026 · 11:13 AM EDT

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ESPN is going through another layoff round.

According to multiple reports, the following personalities are out: Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech, Tom Pelissero, David Lloyd, Charles Davis, and Stephania Bell. The cuts are taking place today, Tuesday, though Clark was informed of his exit on Monday in what amounted to a fugazi turn of events.

Andrew Marchand at The Athletic explained it thusly:

ESPN has cut ties with NFL analyst Ryan Clark, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic.

Clark was on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Monday. He was informed of the decision during the show, said the sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Clark did not finish the program.

Sources at ESPN say the reason they told Clark during the show was due to media inquiries into his departure and a fear that the news would leak out before they could inform him. Since after the Super Bowl in February, sources had told The Athletic that Clark’s job could be in jeopardy. Last week, The Athletic learned that Clark was likely to be let go.

ESPN’s plan was to do that on Tuesday morning, but after receiving calls on the matter chose to inform him during his show as they did not want him to read it online before being told in person.

That’s a tough way to go. Crap situation with your impending layoff leaking out to the press. So the suits end up canning you sooner to avoid an embarrassing situation for them and for you. It’s icky all around.

Some other thoughts on the layoffs:

• When ESPN acquired NFL Network, they absorbed that group of insiders. I had wondered if they’d be able to carry all of Adam Schefter, Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, Jeremy Fowler, and Dan Graziano/etc. at the same time. A lot of what’s taking place right now is tied to the purchase and integration of NFL Network. Pelissero might be the perfect fit for Dianna Russini’s previous role at The Athletic.
• Charles Davis is a good analyst. I liked his NFLN stuff and he was solid in draft coverage. You may be more familiar with his CBS gig as an NFL and college football color commentator.
• Ravech has been around forever, an ESPN veteran of three decades. He called Phils/Dodgers last night. He’s one of those classic network names, right up there with the likes of Stuart Scott and Rich Eisen and Linda Cohn and the broadcasters we watched back in the 1990s and early 2000s. You feel a little bit of your soul depart when a guy like this moves on from ESPN. Ravech’s name was synonomous with ESPN baseball for a long, long time.
• David Lloyd is another OG. He’s been around for a minute and I always enjoyed him on SportsCenter. I’d go as far as to say he was underrated. He was steady and consistent and solid at the job for a long time. And honestly, I don’t think I ever heard anybody say anything bad about him. Have you? When’s the last time you heard somebody rip David Lloyd?
• Stephania Bell’s work is a little more niche at ESPN, but she had been there since 2008 and was a staple in their fantasy football coverage. It’s a bummer.

UPDATE 1 – looks like Bart Scott, Cam Newton, and Andreas Hale have been let go