Quarterback Premiere - LA Nigerian-American former linebacker Emmanuel Acho arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix s Quarterback Season 1 held at the Netflix Tudum Theater on July 11, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM Los Angeles CA United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxESPxUKxUSAxBELxPOL Copyright: xCollinxXavier/ImagexPressxAgencyxABACAx 860440_083 CollinxXavier/ImagexPressxAgencyxABACAx 860440_083

Jul 22, 2026, 4:45 AM CUT

Former NFL LB makes bold claim about ESPN layoffs

ESPN is undergoing its first large-scale layoffs for the first time in three years and is reportedly using a cruel tactic. Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker, has revealed there is a pattern in these layoffs.

“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,” Acho, the founder of the Speakeasy podcast, wrote on X. “Cold world, no blankets.”

Acho, a former Eagles linebacker, posted the observation on July 21, the same day ESPN announced its first major layoffs since acquiring NFL Network in January this year.

The corporate merger between these two companies took place so that Disney could acquire NFL Network and NFL RedZone, in return for a ten percent stake in ESPN.

According to the internal memo from ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, most of these layoffs are driven by the NFL Network acquisition.

“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Front Office Sports reported on July 21. “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. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.”

ESPN has laid off senior NFL insider Tom Pelissero and Karl Ravech, one of ESPN’s most prominent on-air voices for more than 30 years.

Some of the others who have been laid off are:

Ryan Clar, analyst and former NFL safety
Cam Newton, First Take contributor and former NFL MVP
Charles Davis, analyst, still associated with CBS Sports though
Stefania Bell, ESPN injury expert
David Lloyd, longtime SportsCenter anchor

Over three years ago, ESPN conducted a major layoff and let go of names like Jeff Van Gundy, a basketball commentator; Keyshawn Johnson, an NFL broadcaster; and Jalen Rose, a basketball analyst. The Athletic reported that ESPN’s parent company, Disney, is also expected to oversee a mass layoff.

Who else is added to the list is to be seen. Is your favorite media personality on the list? Let us know.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar