SerpApi.Org
ESPN is making cuts again. The network has kicked off another round of layoffs, with several recognizable on-air personalities getting caught in the roster shake-up, including a longtime NFL insider and a veteran MLB broadcaster.
Layoffs are never easy, and unfortunately, they’ve become part of the business as ESPN looks to trim costs and reshape its lineup. Still, it’s tough to see familiar faces lose their jobs—especially when they’re public-facing reporters and broadcasters whose careers have played out in front of fans for years.
Related: ESPN Layoffs: The Pat McAfee Connection Everyone Is Talking About
Fans Blast ESPN Over Pat McAfee’s Salary
As the layoffs dominate headlines, so have the eye-popping paychecks of ESPN’s two biggest stars. Stephen A. Smith reportedly earns around $20 million annually, while McAfee’s deal is worth roughly $60 million per year. Those numbers quickly became fuel for a heated debate on X, where fans questioned ESPN’s spending priorities and even McAfee’s long-term future with the network.
One fan summed up the frustration by writing, “ESPN is about to become MTV during the Ridiculousness era. First Take and Pat McAfee 24/7.”
Another couldn’t believe the reported salaries, posting, “How are Pat McAfee and Mahomes earning the same ffs?”
A third user questioned McAfee’s value compared to Smith, writing, “I’m not the biggest Stephen A. fan, but how is Pat McAfee bigger tho???”
Others leaned into gallows humor. One fan joked, “Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee are going to have to work alternating 12-hour shifts to keep ESPN on the air.”
Another offered perhaps the harshest take of the bunch: “The dumbest person you know is hyped about Pat McAfee at ESPN.”
The reported cuts have been on the horizon for weeks. Back in June, Front Office Sports reported that ESPN was preparing for significant staff reductions tied to its merger with NFL Network, with both on-air talent and behind-the-scenes employees expected to be affected. Clark, whose current deal reportedly paid him more than $2 million annually, had already been the subject of layoff speculation since shortly after the Super Bowl, according to Andrew Marchand.
The restructuring also comes against the backdrop of Disney’s blockbuster partnership with the NFL. In a February SEC filing, Disney valued its NFL agreement at approximately $3 billion. The deal also includes long-term provisions that could allow Disney to buy back the league’s equity stake in ESPN after July 2034, while giving the NFL the option to increase its ownership by up to 4% under certain conditions.
Related: NFL Makes Major Roger Goodell Decision That Will Shape the League’s Future
Want to see more exclusive sports content like this? Follow Sportsnaut on MSN.
