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Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Ryan Clark was sensationally let go by ESPN on July 20—while he was in the midst of filming for the network's hit show "NFL Live."
Clark, 46, who retired from professional football in 2015, signed his first deal with ESPN just a few weeks later, when he was brought on to serve as an analyst working on a number of different shows. He signed his most recent contract extension with the network in 2024—and was reportedly making around $2 million per year, according to The Athletic, which broke the news about his firing.
It is understood that Clark was given the news mid-way through the broadcast, with viewers calling attention to the fact that he disappeared from the show after a commercial break and did not return. It appears that Clark was filming from his mansion in Baton Rouge, LA, with his background showing a shelving unit on which several mementos from his football and TV careers are displayed.
Anonymous sources told The Athletic that executives had initially planned to explain their decision to Clark on the morning of Tuesday, July 21, but had moved up that conversation after receiving several media inquiries about the host's future with the network—leading them to believe that the news may have been about to break.
Fearful that Clark would end up reading about his own firing before he was told about it, they made the decision to deliver the blow during the broadcast.
However, the outlet reports that the news did not come as a surprise to many insiders, claiming that rumors first began circulating around ESPN after the Super Bowl that Clark's job "could be in jeopardy," noting that executives had "soured" on the former NFL safety because of "issues with some of his past choices."
These are understood to have included an on-air altercation that he had with his colleague, Peter Schrager, on "Get Up" in September 2025, during which Clark told off the commentator for defending the performance of Dallas Cowboys player CeeDee Lamb.
"We shouldn’t do this on TV, so I apologize if people think this is rude: That’s the non-player in you," Clark told Shcrager, while pointing a finger at him.
"Oh, stop!" Schrager responded. "Don’t belittle me like that. I can come and say, as three ex-players are saying one thing, and give an alternative perspective that maybe CeeDee Lamb did play well."
Clark then told his colleague to "not get mad and let me finish," although he later posted a public apology to Schrager on X, noting that he had "taken accountability" for the incident with ESPN leadership.
"Today, I had an interaction with my colleague @PSchrags both on and off the air that I regret," he wrote. "I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership.
"I value working with Peter and look forward to this season. My focus will remain on professionalism, teamwork, and being a better teammate moving forward."
The Athletic alleges that Clark's axing was just the first of several anticipated layoffs, which it states will include other "on-air personalities" who are currently based at ESPN's headquarters in Connecticut, "as well as a larger number of employees, both on- and off-the-air, from NFL Network."
While Clark has previously filmed shows like "First Take" and "Get Up," it appears that he was filming at his Louisiana home during what now appears to be his final appearance on "NFL Live."
After it was reported that he had been fired, viewers began sharing clips of Clark's last show, with one person noting on X that "'NFL Live' hit commercial break ... came back and he was gone."
