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The former NFL quarterback, 37, signed a multiyear contract extension with the network last year
NEED TO KNOW
- Cam Newton is out at ESPN
- The Heisman Trophy winner is among those who have been laid off by the network on Tuesday, July 21
- Other departures include NFL analyst Ryan Clark, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero and longtime ESPN baseball voice Karl Ravech
ESPN is parting ways with Cam Newton.
The Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL MVP — who most recently served as Stephen A. Smith’s debate partner on First Take — has been let go by the outlet on Tuesday, July 21.
OutKick was the first to report the news.
Newton, 37, is among other high-profile departures announced on Tuesday, including NFL analyst Ryan Clark, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero and longtime ESPN baseball voice Karl Ravech.
The former Carolina Panthers quarterback signed on with ESPN in October 2024, and primarily appeared on First Take. Last August, the father of nine signed a multiyear deal with the network, which included an expanded role on the program after Shannon Sharpe’s exit.
In a memo obtained by PEOPLE that was sent to employees from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro on Tuesday, Pitaro termed the layoffs as “difficult decisions.”
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“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.”
Pitaro added that ESPN employees would be notified today if their position has been impacted.
“Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans,” he concluded in the memo.
The layoffs include on-air personalities based at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., and a larger number of on- and off-air employees at NFL Network, The Athletic reported.
Read the original article on People
