Former ESPN host Trey Wingo has publicly challenged the assertion that Ryan Clark was the driving force behind the success of the network's "NFL Live" program. Wingo's comments come in the wake of recent ESPN layoffs, which included Clark.
Emmanuel Acho, another former ESPN personality, tweeted that Clark "built NFL Live into the juggernaut it is today," while also crediting others like Laura Rutledge, Mina Kimes, and Marcus Spears. Acho clarified that Clark did not "ideate" the show, distinguishing between building and originating.
Wingo, who hosted "NFL Live" for many years before leaving the show in 2017, responded to Acho's statement with a graphic. The graphic, according to Wingo, showed a decline in "NFL Live" viewership over the past decade. He urged that apologies should be "as loud as your disrespect," referencing a previous comment made by Acho.
Wingo joined ESPN in the late 1990s and was instrumental in developing "NFL Live" after it transitioned to a daily format in 2003. He worked on the show with a team that included Adam Schefter, Mark Schlereth, Tedy Bruschi, Herm Edwards, and Trent Dilfer.
Data presented by Wingo indicated that "NFL Live" viewership peaked in 2013 with 688,000 viewers. Since then, according to the graphic, the show has not reached those numbers and has experienced a steady decline. The show's ratings reportedly saw their strongest performance between 2011 and 2017.
Wingo's tenure at ESPN concluded in November 2020 after more than two decades with the company. His departure followed the cancellation of his ESPN radio show, "Golic and Wingo," in July 2020. Wingo has since moved on to other ventures, including a role as Chief Trends Officer for Caesars Sportsbook.