ESPN has cut ties with NFL analyst Ryan Clark, sources briefed on the move, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, told The Athletic.
Clark had been with the network for a decade and was slated to be a large part of its Super Bowl LXI coverage; ESPN will host the game for the first time in its history next year.
Clark was making more than $2 million per year, the sources said.
ESPN declined to comment.
ESPN executives soured on Clark because of issues with his words, a dynamic that peaked with an on- and off-air incident this past season involving colleague Peter Schrager.
Clark, 46, played 13 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2002. His playing career ended after the 2014 season, and he transitioned into a broadcasting role at ESPN, working his way up the network’s depth chart. He ultimately landed on the prestigious “Monday Night Countdown,” sitting next to host Scott Van Pelt and analysts Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears. He was on the program for three years.
Clark also was a regular on shows such as “First Take,” “Get Up” and “NFL Live.” Clark has his own podcast, “The Pivot,” on which he often speaks from the heart about issues that impact athletes. He also used it and social media as a forum to explain himself further and apologize when he felt he was wrong.
On “Get Up” last September, after Schrager defended Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s performance in an opening-night loss, Clark said, “That’s the non-player in you.”
Schrager asked Clark not to belittle him and mentioned there are other perspectives, to which Clark responded, “Peter, what I need for you to do is not get mad and let me finish.”
Much later that day, Clark tweeted out an apology, saying, “Today, I had an interaction with my colleague (Schrager) both on and off the air that I regret.”
Clark signed his new deal in 2024 after a very public negotiation, which caught the attention of many of his colleagues.
“3 years ago I signed an extension with ESPN. I was so grateful for more time,” Clark tweeted after the Super Bowl in February 2024. “I (was) excited to prove I was worth more, felt I deserved more. We disagreed, & that’s ok. I set out on a mission to leave no doubt, end all conversations about who I was in this business.
“The season is over. The deal is up. Time to make a decision. Either way it goes. The mission don’t change. I want to be the best doing it. Everyone should. I’m more motivated today than ever. I’m still the same #UndraftedFreeAgent !”
