Stephen A. Smith says ESPN approached him about Ryan Clark amid contemplating layoffs. Moreover, the admission adds a personal layer to ESPN’s latest round of cuts ahead of NFL season.
What We Know: Ryan Clark spent 11 years at ESPN after joining the network in 2015. In addition, he became a fixture on First Take, NFL Live and Get Up. This week, ESPN cut Clark as part of the company’s broader cuts. According to Smith, executives asked for his input beforehand, though the final call belonged to leadership above him.
What They Said: (All quotes via Stephen A. Smith on YouTube)
Stephen A. Smith reveals he was consulted about Ryan Clark being a target of layoffs: “Was I asked what I thought what my feelings were? Yes, I was. Of course I said we have to keep them. But I don’t get to make those decisions. And I don’t get to ignore the fiscal and financial circumstances and ultimate ramifications that come with the job. That’s for the dudes way above me and the ladies. Decisions like this, I would imagine, don’t come easy.”
Stephen A. Smith reflects on Ryan Clark leaving ESPN: “My man Ryan Clark for ESPN is gone. He was let go by ESPN yesterday. There’s a lot of noise circulating throughout social media and beyond about how he found out… I don’t know all those details and to be quite honest with you, I don’t care. What I care about is that my brother Ryan Clark. A person that I consider to be arguably the best NFL analyst in America, is no longer a member of ESPN. I can’t even tell y’all how much that hurts.
Stephen A. Smith not happy with ESPN’s decision: “I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I’m not happy about this decision. I’ve made that very clear. But it’s also important that myself and anybody else in the world of business be grown-ups. Understand that these are the kind of things that happen when layoffs happen.”
Stephen A. Smith on refraining from critics of Clark following being laid off: “Over the last few hours, I had to really refrain. Damn near got blisters on my tongue and my fingers from biting my tongue and biting my fingers from refraining from going after folks when I saw how people were talking about him. They don’t know him at all. They don’t know him at all.”
Stephen A. Smith says ESPN is like any other business: “I can disagree with my employers. What you’re not going to get me to do is insult my employers. Business is business. Whether we like it or not, those people who made the decisions, whether it’s a Ryan Clark or a host of other people, are paid to make those decisions. It’s an enviable position to be in. This ain’t the days when ESPN could just hire and hire and hire some more without ever having to let go or lay off anybody. Those days are long gone.”
What Remains Unclear: Exactly how Clark learned the news remains murky, despite chatter across social media. Moreover, Smith addressed the rumors directly, saying, “I don’t know all those details and to be quite honest with you, I don’t care.” Meanwhile, it’s unclear how much weight his input carried in the final decision.
What It Means: For Smith, the moment underscores the line between loyalty and business reality. Although he pushed back internally, he ultimately deferred to leadership’s authority. Moreover, that distinction, between disagreement and disrespect, may shape how other talent handles future cuts. In conclusion, Smith’s restraint signals how ESPN expects its stars to respond, even amid personal loss.
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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.