Let me say the quiet part out loud. Social media and sports media drama is a disease. In the last few weeks, ESPN NFL commentator Ryan Clark has appeared in my personal timelines more than any of the professional sports teams I care for. Headlines, tweets, replies—all circulating around a whirlwind of several different storylines involving Ryan Clark, who has inserted himself into the controversies willingly.
To recap, in the last two weeks the former Pittsburgh Steelers great has criticized a former ESPN teammate because he married a white woman (not once, but twice) and allegedly doesn’t understand the challenges of Black women athletes. He also published an interview with Bill Belichick that fell flat on headlines because Clark revealed that he’s okay with selectively editing interviews to the guest’s liking. Then Clark, in an interview with Complex, said the biggest problem in sports media is “liars”—on the same day his Pivot co-host Channing Crowder apologized after going on WQAM in Miami and stating that Jordon Hudson “choreographed” the interview with Belichick on The Pivot.
If the last two weeks proved anything, Ryan Clark should consider a pivot away from sports media for a little while.
For the entirety of his playing career and post-playing career, Ryan Clark has always been a very focused and driven individual who has achieved more success than many will ever experience. He’s a graduate of LSU with a degree in mass communications, played 13 years in the NFL, and is a Super Bowl champion. Clark joined ESPN the day he retired from the NFL in 2015, launched The Pivot podcast in 2021, and won his first Sports Emmy in 2023.
He’s a modern-day American dream—from undrafted to one of the top sports media personalities in the country.
Follow Your Motto
Speaking specifically to Clark’s venture with Crowder and former NFL running back Fred Taylor, The Pivot podcast’s messaging statement is “accept, adjust, and move forward.”
If the past two weeks have proven anything for Clark, we’re still waiting for the “adjust and move forward” part of the equation.
For instance, when Ryan Clark said that Robert Griffin III couldn’t relate to the struggles of young Black women athletes because he’s not having those conversations in his home—due to both his marriages being with white women—the comment was labeled out of bounds. Without question, it was. Clark inserted race, took a personal shot that involved family, and didn’t blink an eye about it.
Griffin responded, saying Clark’s personal attack on him and his family over a sports opinion was cowardly, spineless, and weak.
The former Baylor quarterback was correct.
Griffin also said that Clark’s personal attack on him and his family over a sports opinion was a bad look for ESPN.
The former Baylor quarterback was correct again—this time about his former employer.
ESPN did nothing in terms of a statement or any discipline. Clark issued an apology to Griffin’s wife, his own family—but not to Griffin himself. This was a great moment for Clark to accept, adjust, and move forward. Accept? He did, with his nearly half-hour apology. Adjust? Hardly.
A Chat With Belichick Became A Hell-A-Mess
A week earlier, The Pivot released an exclusive sit-down that ran over an hour with University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick. The interview centered on Belichick’s new book, his career in the NFL, and his personal relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson. Their relationship has captivated the attention of the country for many reasons; this would have been a perfect opportunity for three former players to capture content that a typical interview might miss.
Hardly. The interview was flat and contained little to no news despite being the most viewed video on The Pivot’s YouTube page since Lando Norris stopped by the podcast.
The same day the Belichick interview was released, Channing Crowder gave a peek behind the curtain of the podcast taping, saying on his WQAM program alongside Marc Hochman that Jordon Hudson is “different,” she “lurks,” and she “choreographed the open” to the interview with The Pivot.
By the way, did anyone else notice that the third hour of the Hochman and Crowder show from the May 16 program is missing from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and WQAM’s own website?
Did Ryan Clark ask to have that hour removed? Did Bill Belichick or Jordon Hudson ask to have it removed?
Interestingly enough, Crowder apologized for his statements made on WQAM this past week to Belichick, saying he was sorry for any negativity his comments may have brought them. Why apologize? Just ask Ryan Clark, who spent the next couple of minutes saying that Crowder’s revelations on WQAM were not true—but also revealed that he spoke to Belichick and Hudson for 90 minutes before taping the episode alongside Crowder and Taylor, and he hasn’t released that discussion yet.
Confused? Do you see why social media is a disease?
Attempting To Make Sense Of A Mess
A simplified version of this story goes as follows: Ryan Clark met with Belichick and Hudson before the interview, going over specifics on how each would like to be framed. Clark revealed he taped an interview with both Belichick and Hudson—without Crowder or Taylor present. Following the release of the Belichick interview, Crowder said Hudson was lurking and choreographed the open. Audio from an hour of Crowder’s show, when he made those comments, is no longer available. Crowder apologized, and then Clark labeled his comments as lies.
Oh wait—there’s more.
Ryan Clark was a guest on Complex the day of Crowder’s apology and said the biggest problem in sports media today is “liars.”
Sounds like we have a five-alarm fire on our hands here.
Taking A Step Back Can Be The Quickest Way Forward
With respect to Clark and everything he has accomplished in his post-football career, he needs to hit the brakes because he’s inserted himself into too many controversies for his own good. You can’t judge a man’s ignorance based on his wife’s skin color. You can’t say that the biggest problem in sports media is “liars” the same day you call your co-host’s comments about your content lies. You can’t also reveal the secret sauce—that you coordinated an interview with the subject beforehand—and still hold the trust of your audience as “authentic” or “real.”
Clark posted to social media on Wednesday: “Moving slimy in the name of clicks is not worth the integrity of our show.” What’s slimier than covering up truth, backtracking, forcing apologies, and then barking back at criticisms while masking facts?
For Ryan Clark, these past two weeks have severely damaged the credibility he has built over the past decade, and a pivot away during the summer would be a fantastic option to quiet the noise, reflect on the time, and refresh into the football season.
That is something I’d recommend he must accept, adjust, and move forward with.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
Agree 100%. Great article.
I was teammates with Clark in the NFL and he is a fraud! I never understood how the decision makers at ESPN felt he was providing us intriguing analysis of NFL football. All I hear is someone who thinks speaking robotic English means you’re an expert. His insight is filled with the same undertone of arrogance as his lackluster personality. I look forward to the day where he is forced to PIVOT away from tv and radio!!! PUN intended!