Cam Newton is out at ESPN, just one day after the network fired longtime NFL analyst Ryan Clark while he was on air shooting “NFL Live.”
Newton served as Stephen A. Smith’s primary Monday co-host on “First Take” during the NFL season, a role he inherited last year when ESPN moved Shannon Sharpe out of the chair.
Cam Newton Is Latest Notable Name Laid Off by ESPN
Newton was included in this latest wave of layoffs tied to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, which also included Karl Ravech, Tom Pelissero, Charles Davis, Bart Scott, David Lloyd, and Stephania Bell among others.
In a memo obtained by Business Insider, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro told staff on Tuesday that the company had to “make some difficult decisions about job impacts” as it folds NFL Network employees into its existing roster.
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future.”
According to Outkick’s Bobby Burack, “Newton was the last big name on the layoff list,” adding that Mina Kimes’ job is safe. This news comes as a bit of a surprise, as ESPN had just announced a new multi-year deal for Newton last August. At the time, ESPN’s executive vice president David Roberts described Newton as “an ultimate team player” and “a unique talent who is authentically himself.”
Now, the company will search for Newton’s permanent replacement on the Monday editions of “First Take.” Burack mentioned that Smith was “intruiged” with NFL quarterback Jameis Winston as a potential addition to “First Take.” However, Winston is currently under contract with the New York Giants and is expected to continue playing this season. Winston has taken on several broadcasting jobs as he prepares for life after football, including a recent correspondent gig as part of Fox’s FIFA World Cup coverage.
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ESPN has now cycled through Skip Bayless, Michael Irvin, Max Kellerman, Sharpe, and now Newton alongside Smith on “First Take.” According to Burack, Newton, Sharpe, and Irvin were all making between $2 million and $6 million per year, so it’s certainly an expensive role to fill.
Clark, who was informed of his firing on Monday during an “NFL Live” broadcast, was making roughly $2 million annually as well. Clark called the moment “madness” in a social media post on Tuesday morning, adding that his “peace is with God.”
Newton’s run on the show included a very public spat with Smith last spring after Newton brought Jason Whitlock onto his own podcast “4th and 1 With Cam Newton,” a beef that played out across social media for weeks. Newton’s decision to interview Whitlock and then double down caused tension with Smith and may have contributed to ESPN’s decision to fire him.
Whoever ESPN puts across from Smith on Mondays this fall inherits a chair that has proven expensive to fill and even harder to keep filled.
