ESPN Just Keeps Getting Smaller And Louder

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460561/2026/07/21/karl-ravech-espn-layoffs-nfl-network/">ESPN staff was hit by another round of layoffs this week, which in some sense barely registers as news given that the network is stuck in a constant state of downsizing.

This round of cuts was notable, however, due to some of the recognizable names that were let go: Karl Ravech, David Lloyd, Stephania Bell, Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, and Tom Pelissero were among the cuts.

Whether you wish to cheer or jeer any particular departure, there's no denying the significance of ESPN cutting loose someone like Ravech, who has been with the network since 1993 and became synonymous with its baseball coverage.

Lloyd started with ESPN in 1997 and has become one of the more familiar faces on SportsCenter; Bell pioneered fantasy-focused injury analysis and turned that into a gig that lasted nearly 20 years; Pelissero is an NFL insider who is just as plugged in as Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.

These are people sports fans have real relationships with.

It is also impossible not to think about these layoffs in the context of some other recent news about ESPN. In June, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7344215/2026/06/09/pat-mcafee-espn-new-deal-contract/">The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that the network was in the midst of negotiating a new contract for host Pat McAfee, which would pay him more than $60 million per year.

Even McAfee himself wasn't immune to making this connection, and attempted to defend his worth during https://youtu.be/IanDz7HtaNk?t=4749">Tuesday's episode of his daily television show: