The NFL media landscape will be very different heading into the 2026 season. After ESPN acquired NFL Network, it also got all of its talent and began laying off some of its NFL media members as part of major layoffs at the company. Former NFL LB Emmanuel Acho was released by FS1 last year and understands the feeling. He took to his social media to share his thoughts on the matter.
Emmanuel Acho Reacts to ESPN’s Flawed Layoff Strategy
Ryan Clark and Tom Pelissero are two of the biggest names in the NFL world to be heading to the unemployment line. They’ll likely be picked up soon, but regardless, ESPN didn’t handle their dismissals well.
Clark was on air on his usual “NFL Live” show before he was reportedly told mid-show that he was being let go by ESPN. After a commercial break, he didn’t appear on screen anymore.
Many of these layoffs have been announced in the sports world on social media, even though ESPN hadn’t alerted these employees to their imminent departure. It is a rough way to find out that you are losing your job, and Acho put in his two cents on what it feels like to be laid off at ESPN.
“What I’m hearing from ESPN sources is that several of those not getting fired are being told to stay home while those getting fired are blindly coming to work to be let go. Cold world, no blankets,” said Acho.
What I’m hearing from ESPN sources is that several of those not getting fired are being told to stay home while those getting fired are blindly coming to work to be let go.
Cold world, no blankets.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 21, 2026
If ESPN is sending people to work who will be met with a shock layoff, the backlash it may receive could go further than Acho. It is pretty poor to treat employees like that, and this strategy isn’t going over well right now.
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Acho clapped back at some hate that he was receiving as well. After an X user urged ESPN to get rid of Acho, unaware he’d been let go for about a year by another network, Acho came firing back and flexed his latest success.
“Stop being greedy. God already answered your prayers when I got fired last year. Since then I formed [“The Speakeasy Show”] and went to work,” said Acho.
Stop being greedy. God already answered your prayers when I got fired last year.
Since then I formed @speakeasytlkshw and went to work.
If y’all want to join the speakeasy family, or just hate watch, we’re live Sunday-Thursday night @ 8:15PST. https://t.co/AowTr91do9 https://t.co/dz6iRPZRtn pic.twitter.com/tQNvmfsV6i
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 21, 2026
Acho’s show with LeSean McCoy has grown into a very popular watch. Their YouTube channel, according to the screenshot shared by Acho, has tallied over 8 million views in the last 28 days.
Acho didn’t fall victim to ESPN’s past layoffs, as he moved to FS1 on his own but was then fired there. However, he turned it into a new, successful path, and many of the layoffs in this cycle aim to prove ESPN wrong and do the same.
