Reason for ESPN layoffs explained by network exec in internal memo

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In corporate America, consolidation often precedes elimination.

Employees at NFL Network and ESPN discovered that harsh reality as ESPN, which now owns NFL Network, laid off high-profile hosts and analysts in addition to behind-the-scenes folks.  

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The NFL sold its media entity, namely its network, to ESPN in a deal that gave the NFL a 10% stake in the company and required layers of government approval before being approved in January 2026.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in an all-staff memo Tuesday that most of the job cuts are a result of the acquisition.

“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro said in the memo obtained by USA TODAY Sports. “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.

“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”

The summer is typically the time of year ESPN conducts mass personnel moves. The company had high-profile layoffs – with names such as Jeff Van Gundy, Trey Wingo, Todd McShay, Jalen Rose and Keyshawn Johnson – in June 2023 when parent company Disney mandated an elimination of 7,000 jobs.

Who has ESPN laid off?

Among the names caught up in this round of layoffs are ex-NFL players and analysts Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, longtime “SportsCenter” host David Lloyd, NFL Network insider Tom Peliserro, fantasy injury expert Stephania Bell and Karl Ravech. (Clark was informed of his departure halfway through a July 20 taping of “NFL Live,” and did not finish the show.)

Analysts such as Newton and Clark open up more airtime for NFL Network newcomers on shows like “First Take.” Front Office Sports reported Kyle Brandt will have a weekly role opposite Stephen A. Smith, for example. Peter Schrager, Brandt’s former “Good Morning Football” co-host on NFL Network for years, made the move to ESPN in 2025, a decision that signaled the upcoming marriage between the “Worldwide Leader” and the NFL.

It hasn't been a pure exodus for ESPN this year. Six journalists laid off by the Washington Post in February joined the company, which also recently reached an extension with college football analyst Tim Tebow.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reason for ESPN layoffs explained by network exec in internal memo