Karl Ravech was fired by ESPN during the latest round of company-wide layoffs. He did not find out from the company.
The 61-year-old play-by-play broadcaster was informed of the decision by a reporter on social media.
This is the second ouster in two days that came as a complete and total blindside to the on-air talent at ESPN. It has been messy.
Ryan Clark found out he was fired by ESPN mid-show.
The ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports’ is right in the middle of a massive cut. Some of the biggest names (so far) include Cam Newton, Tom Pelissero, Bart Scott, Stephania Bell, David Lloyd, Charles Davis, Ryan Clark and Karl Ravech.
Clark was the first domino to fall on Monday afternoon. He found out in the middle of the NFL Live broadcast. This was just moments before the news was made public:
As the story goes, ESPN was planning to tell Clark on Tuesday morning alongside his colleagues. Because the news of his firing leaked to the media during the show, an executive decision was made to inform him of the decision during a commercial break. Clark did not finish the program. He will not return.
Karl Ravech found out he was fired by ESPN through social media.
The second big name was announced on Tuesday morning. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic was the first person to break the news that Karl Ravech is being let go from the network after 33 years.
His report went live at ~8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. ESPN had not informed Ravech of the decision.
Therefore, when Marchand called him up to ask for a comment, he did not know that he is currently unemployed.
“Reached by phone on Tuesday morning, Ravech had yet to be told, as ESPN is planning to inform employees later in the morning.”
Brutal. An employee who joined the network in 1993 did not learn that he was fired from the network.
And to make matters worse, his ouster might be the least expected. ESPN is trying to streamline its NFL operation while it absorbs NFL Network. It was shocking to see a guy like Pelissero get fired but the network is sticking with Adam Schefter. To have two insiders in this same role is redundant. Fair enough.
The decision to fire Ravech is out of left field. Nobody saw it coming. Not even him. He found out through Marchand.