Bombshell Report Reveals ESPN’s Massive Plans For Pat McAfee After Ryan Clark Firing

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Ryan Clark’s reported departure from ESPN has reignited discussion about another one of the network’s biggest personalities.

A post circulating on X claims ESPN is preparing to pay Pat McAfee more than $60 million annually while laying off other employees.

The post credits The Athletic, but that tidbit does not appear in Monday’s report about Clark’s departure.

Instead, the salary claim stems from a separate report published by Andrew Marchand in June. That report noted that ESPN and McAfee were discussing an extension worth between $60 million and $65 million per year, although no deal had been finalized.

Ryan Clark Learned Of ESPN’s Decision During Monday’s Live Show

Clark’s reported exit has quickly become one of the biggest stories in sports media.

According to The Athletic, he was informed he was being let go while appearing on Monday’s edition of ‘NFL Live’. He did not return to finish the program.

The report said ESPN originally planned to notify Clark on Tuesday. However, media inquiries about his future prompted executives to move up the timeline. The network reportedly wanted Clark to hear the news firsthand rather than read about it online.

The Athletic also reported there had been internal concerns about Clark’s future since shortly after the Super Bowl.

According to the report, ESPN executives had grown frustrated with several on-air incidents involving Clark. Those included a tense exchange with Peter Schrager, which later led to a public apology.

Clark was reportedly earning over $2 million a year with The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Meanwhile, McAfee’s future appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

June’s report claimed ESPN was considering expanding his responsibilities, including a larger role in its NFL coverage, if the two sides complete a new extension.