ESPN analyst and former NFL player Bart Scott has described a sudden and abrupt firing from the network, stating he was informed of his contract non-renewal just moments before going on air for his ESPN New York radio show.
Scott, who played in the NFL for a decade before joining ESPN in 2017, is among several high-profile personalities recently cut by the network. These layoffs have affected former NFL stars Ryan Clark and two-time Super Bowl champion Damien Woody. Scott stated on The Joint Venture Show that the call informing him of his departure was not in person, and he expressed his dissatisfaction with the method.
Following the phone call, Scott did not co-host his show 'Bart and Carlin' that day, with his co-host Chris Carlin hosting solo. ESPN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Similar to Scott's experience, Ryan Clark also detailed a contentious departure. According to reports, Clark was dismissed during a recording of NFL Live, leading to his early departure from the broadcast. While some reports suggested Clark was to be notified later, the network reportedly learned of an impending news story and decided to inform him during the live recording. Clark has disputed the narrative that he was not forced to leave, posting on X that he asked if he should be done, and the answer was yes.
Damien Woody, a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, also departed ESPN after his contract was not renewed. Woody had been with the network for 15 years since retiring from the NFL in 2011, frequently appearing on shows like SportsCenter, NFL Live, and Get Up.
Another long-time ESPN personality, Karl Ravech, was also laid off after more than three decades with the network. Ravech stated he held no ill will towards the company that had provided him with significant career opportunities.