The first wave of layoffs impacting ESPN employees has come. Among the jobs eliminated by the network this week was the program director role at 98.7 ESPN in New York held by Ryan Hurley.
Hurley had been with the station for almost two decades, going from intern to executive producer of The Michael Kay Show to eventually PD. He had been in the role since 2017.
On Tuesday, Kay and co-hosts Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg all reflected on their time working with Hurley through the years and had nothing but great things to say.
“He’s a great person. he’s an unbelievable dad,” Kay said. “He was a great guy to work for, and we are all really saddened today. We learned about it just before we went on the air.”
“It’s a big blow for us.” he added. “It really is, and we’re all sad about it.”
Don responded talking about how he remembered first meeting Ryan when he was interning. Once they were working together they became closer. He wished Hurley well.
“These are family members,” La Greca said. “And to see them go is really tough. He’ll land on his feet, he’s too talented not to.”
Rosenberg added that the meeting where they learned of Hurley’s departure was probably the hardest one he’s had to attend. He considers Ryan a friend.
