SerpApi.Org
After nearly ten years at NFL Network, Tom Pelissero is out.
ESPN cut the veteran insider loose on Tuesday, even though he reportedly had a year still remaining on his contract. The layoff follows Disney’s acquisition of NFL Network earlier this year, a deal that brought Pelissero and his fellow NFL Network colleagues over to ESPN.
Pelissero wasn’t the only one, though. He was just one of many high-profile layoffs at ESPN, including NFL analyst Ryan Clark, former NFL players Cam Newton and Bart Scott, and longtime baseball voice Karl Ravech, among others.
Pelissero spoke out about the abrupt exit Wednesday morning on X. “Thanks to all of you who watched me the past nine years on NFL Network. Thanks to all of my colleagues who made the job fun and pushed me on a daily basis. Thanks to my family, who constantly made sacrifices to support me in a life-consuming job,” Pelissero wrote, signing off with a “See you soon” and a GIF of Ted Lasso saying, “Onward. Forward.”
More news: Justin Jefferson Sends Firm Message to Kyler Murray, JJ McCarthy Amid QB Battle
A Minnesota native, Pelissero joined NFL Network in 2017 after covering the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, and before that covered the NFL for USA Today and hosted a radio show on SiriusXM NFL Radio and 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
Over the last decade, he became one of football‘s most trusted news-breakers and recognizable insiders alongside Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Adam Schefter.
More news: Lions’ Jared Goff Fires Warning to NFC Rivals Ahead of 2026 Season
More news: Minnesota Vikings Player Facing the Most Pressure in 2026
Given his role as a prominent NFL voice, Pelissero shouldn’t have trouble landing on his feet. Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel noted there should be real competition for his services, since ESPN has largely cornered the insider role in recent years.
Pelissero probably won’t be the last of the ESPN layoffs, either. They tend to come in batches, with this round just the latest in a string of cuts dating back over a decade.
Related Articles
