ESPN’s latest round of layoffs has claimed some of the network’s most prominent voices. Ryan Clark, who had been a fixture on various NFL shows since joining ESPN in 2015, was let go on July 20 while the show “NFL Live” was still on the air. Cam Newton, the former NFL MVP, was fired the next day, and the layoffs are part of broader reductions at the parent company, Disney, following ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network earlier this year.
ESPN’s decisions have sparked reactions across the sports media landscape, and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders didn’t hold back in defense of both Clark and Newton.
Deion Sanders Reacts to ESPN Parting Ways With Ryan Clark, Cam Newton
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Clark was informed he was being let go during a break on Monday’s “NFL Live.” ESPN had originally planned to notify him the next morning, alongside other affected employees, but media inquiries forced the network to accelerate the timeline for fear that Clark would learn about it online first.
Sanders reposted Clark’s gracious farewell message, in which the former Pittsburgh Steelers safety sent prayers to his laid-off colleagues.
“This is 1 of many reasons I love this brother to Life!” Sanders said about Clark. “This was arguably the best talent on the ESPN roster! How can You Know WHO still be there and @Realrclark25 AINT! Wow & please tell me the rumors of @CameronNewton ain’t true and this dude is STILL there.”
This is 1 of many reasons I love this brother to Life! This was arguably the best talent on the espn roster! How can You Know WHO still be there and @Realrclark25 AINT! Wow & please tell me the rumors of @CameronNewton ain’t true and this dude is STILL there. https://t.co/dwRa3Gq8Wi
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 21, 2026
Newton’s exit came after he signed a multi-year deal with ESPN in the summer of 2025 and had replaced Shannon Sharpe as Smith’s primary debate partner during football season on “First Take.”
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So far, the real reason behind Newton and Clark’s exits from the network hasn’t been revealed yet, but their departures have drawn mixed reactions on social media.
Fortunately, neither Clark nor Newton is without a platform. Clark co-hosts “The Pivot podcast” alongside Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, while Newton has two podcasts of his own, both of which have built sizable audiences.
However, with the 2026 NFL season approaching and most broadcast networks’ rosters already set, landing a new full-time television role could take time.
It will be a surprise if either analyst lands a new job at a competing outlet before the season kicks off, and their podcasts are expected to be the primary vehicle for their NFL and off-field coverage moving forward.
