Several months after being laid off by Pro Football Focus, Beckett Mesko was surprised to see himself helping promote the company after he was among the many employees let go during PFF’s restructuring in March 2026.
Former PFF Employee Speaks Out After Seeing Ad
On Thursday, Mesko noticed his likeness being used in sponsored ads for PFF.
“Was interesting to see my face on paid ads promoting a company that laid me off and I no longer represent this morning,” he wrote on X.
Was interesting to see my face on paid ads promoting a company that laid me off and I no longer represent this morning pic.twitter.com/mQrbI0xNWA
— Beckett🔋 (@410Beck) August 6, 2026
His post did not sit well with many fans, who criticized the situation. However, it is important to note that PFF likely has the legal right to keep using content Mesko created while he worked there.
Nevertheless, a few felt the optics were poor, considering Mesko was laid off and already has a new job with Fantasy Life.
“Bums,” a fan wrote, referring to PFF.
Bums
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) August 6, 2026
“Nice reminder for us creators: your personal brand matters. Build a career. Build a reputation. Build your own brand. Companies will continue to monetize your work long after you’ve moved on. Invest in something you can own,” Andrew Russell wrote on X.
Nice reminder for us creators: your personal brand matters.
Build a career. Build a reputation. Build your own brand. Companies will continue to monetize your work long after you’ve moved on. Invest in something you can own. https://t.co/xBMZUhP03V
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) August 6, 2026
One fan kept their comment simple and wrote, “lol no way.”
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“Oops,” Graphic designer Seth Reese added.
oops
— Seth Reese † (@SethR94) August 6, 2026
“Wow,” another user on X added.
Wow
— Duchess Banana of Anna 👑🍌 (@banana_of_anna) August 6, 2026
Mesko had become a familiar face to many football fans during his time at PFF. He worked as a social media specialist, helped run the company’s NFL social accounts and regularly shared fantasy football analysis.
In late March however, PFF made deep cuts across its consumer media business. The layoffs came after owner Cris Collinsworth’s reported nine-figure sale of PFF’s enterprise data business to Teamworks. After the deal, the company reduced its editorial, podcast, social media and digital content teams.
Mesko was among the several notable employees who lost their jobs during the restructuring. After the layoffs, he shared a message thanking the people he had worked with.
“Following the PFF layoffs, I’m officially a free agent,” he wrote on X. “Grateful for the connections & what I got to build there, even if the exit wasn’t how I would’ve drawn it up.”
Mesko thereafter joined Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life as its Social Media Manager, where he now helps with the company’s social media strategy.
