ESPN is reportedly planning to lay off NFL analyst Ryan Clark, multiple sources told OutKick. The network could announce the layoffs as soon as Tuesday.
Clark, who has been with ESPN for over 11 years, is expected to be among the highest-paid on-air personalities affected by the cuts. His annual salary is reported to be around $2 million per year. It remains unclear if his contract is expiring or if he is being parted ways with while still under contract.
Clark joined ESPN in 2015 after retiring from the NFL and re-signed with the network in 2021 for a three-year deal. In 2024, contract negotiations between Clark and ESPN were described as contentious, with Clark expressing on social media at the time that he felt he "deserved more" and ESPN "disagreed." A deal was ultimately reached.
The timing of these reported layoffs is significant, as Clark is a key figure on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown pregame NFL coverage. The network is scheduled to broadcast its first Super Bowl on February 14. ESPN is reportedly considering both internal and external candidates to replace Clark in its Super Bowl studio coverage.
In recent years, Clark has become a more polarizing figure within ESPN. Sage Steele, in her lawsuit against the network, alleged that Clark refused to work with her on-air. Clark has also drawn media attention for public comments, including criticism of Robert Griffin III's marriage, an on-air exchange with Peter Schrager, and disputed claims regarding a police investigation into a fatal crash involving former LSU player Kyren Lacy.
OutKick reached out to ESPN for comment but did not receive a statement before publication. This is a developing story.