Bart Scott knew television could be cold. ESPN apparently decided to make sure he felt the temperature on the way into work.
The former New York Jets linebacker revealed that he learned ESPN would not renew his contract through a phone call while he was heading into his radio show.
The timing invited comparisons with Ryan Clark, who learned about his own exit while “NFL Live” was still on the air.
Bart Scott Details ESPN Phone Call
Scott shared the story during “The Joint Venture Show” with Craig Carton and Lil Wayne.
“Hey, man, I was going into my radio show, and they called me, like, ‘Hey, uh, just to let you know, wish we could do it in person,’” Scott said. “Like, no, you don’t, [expletive]. ‘Oh, I wish I could do it in person!’ Nah.”
Scott said ESPN then told him, “We’re not gonna renew you,” with his contract set to expire in September.
The delivery was brutal enough to make Clark’s departure look almost conventional.
Clark learned he was losing his ESPN job during the July 20 edition of “NFL Live” and did not finish the program. A leak accelerated ESPN’s original plan to inform him the following day.
Scott avoided getting pulled off live television, but receiving the call while heading in to host a radio show is its own rough way to discover that the relationship is ending.
The ESPN layoffs also affected Cam Newton, Tom Pelissero, Karl Ravech, and Charles Davis.
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Scott Has No Ill Will Toward ESPN
Despite taking a shot at the delivery, Scott did not spend the conversation torching his former employer.
“It’s part of the business,” Scott said. “You understand the balance, and I don’t know what they had to do when they had to trim the fat.”
Scott said losing a job can force someone to leave a comfort zone and try something different. He also stressed that he appreciated the platform ESPN gave him.
“I hold no ill will,” Scott said. “I don’t even know who made the call. But I did enjoy my time there.”
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His closing line sounded less like bitterness and more like a challenge.
“It’s my job to make them regret it,” Scott said.
Scott first joined ESPN New York in a limited role in 2017 before joining full-time in 2020. He became a familiar voice on ESPN Radio while also appearing on “Get Up” and “First Take.”
Before broadcasting, Scott spent 11 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Jets after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2006.
Scott understands that television jobs come with expiration dates. He just did not expect ESPN to deliver his while he was practically walking through the door.
Clark’s abrupt exit was awkward because viewers could notice it happening in real time. Scott’s was quieter, but finding out by phone while heading to work gives ESPN another entry in a summer full of uncomfortable goodbye stories.
