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Ryan Clark is part of the most recent round of layoffs at ESPN, according to a report from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
Clark, a 13-year NFL player turned ESPN analyst, spent 12 years with the company before being let go. He was reportedly told of his looming layoff during a Monday taping of "NFL Live" and did not finish the show.
What led to ESPN's decision to part with Clark? Marchand reports a dispute with fellow NFL analyst Peter Schrager played a role in the network's decision.
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"ESPN executives soured on Clark because of issues with some of his choices, a dynamic that peaked with an on- and off-air incident this past season involving colleague Peter Schrager," Marchand wrote.
Ryan Clark and Peter Schrager confrontation
The dispute between Clark and Schrager happened on-air during an episode of "Get Up" on Sept. 5, 2025, the day after the Philadelphia Eagles earned a 24-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL's season opener.
The ESPN panel – which featured Clark, Schrager, Dan Orlovsky, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Greenberg – was breaking down the respective performances of CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown during the Cowboys vs. Eagles game.
Schrager was arguing Lamb had enjoyed a good performance despite failing to make a diving catch on a fourth-and-3 on what turned out to be Dallas' final drive of the game. Meanwhile, the others were arguing Lamb's inability to make the catch would mar his otherwise strong outing.
During that debate, Clark took what appeared to be a dig at Schrager.
"We shouldn't do this on TV, and I apologize if people think this is rude, but that's the non-player in you," Clark told Schrager.
Schrager took exception to Clark's comment, interjecting and telling his counterpart he was "not looking at fantasy football" in breaking down his assessment of Brown and Lamb's performance during the contest.
"Don’t belittle me like that," Schrager said. "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 cut back in to insist he wasn't taking a shot at Schrager and elaborate on the point he was trying to make.
"Peter, what I need for you to do is not get mad and let me finish," Clark said. "It wasn't about you. It was gonna be about me. I can’t speak for CeeDee Lamb; I’m speaking for me.
"If I go out and I have 12 tackles and I get two interceptions, and then there’s a run late in the game that I miss a tackle and the other team wins the game, I’m not talking to my family on the way home," Clark explained. "They’re not calling me as I’m walking to the car. My wife is telling people – because we’ve been through it before – you do not speak if he doesn’t speak.
"I’m not saying that CeeDee Lamb can't play. I’m not saying that you’re wrong for defending him. I’m talking from the perspective that I know CeeDee Lamb feels. That’s why I prefaced it by saying, 'This is not about you. I’m not trying to be rude.' I’m not saying you don’t understand, but what I’m saying is I fully understand."
Greenberg intervened to prevent the temperature from rising any further on-camera, but Clark noted the tiff continued off-camera in an apology he issued to Schrager on social media later that evening.
"Today, I had an interaction with my colleague (Peter Schrager) both on and off the air that I regret," Clark wrote in a post to X. "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."
Clark and Schrager only ended up being teammates at ESPN during the 2025 NFL season. Schrager joined ESPN on April 1, 2025 after a lengthy stint at NFL Network during which he co-hosted "Good Morning Football."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Clark layoff influenced by argument with Peter Schrager, per report
