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NFL analyst Rob Ninkovich will be parting ways with ESPN as his contract will not be renewed, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
Ninkovich, a former star player for the New England Patriots, joined ESPN in 2019 and has since appeared on popular studio shows such as “NFL Live” and “Get Up.”
Ninkovich was a Super Bowl champion while with the Patriots under the leadership of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, has been a prominent figure in ESPN’s NFL coverage. However, his time at the network will come to an end as his contract is set to expire this summer.
ESPN declined to comment on the matter to Front Office Sports.
Ninkovich’s departure from ESPN is part of a broader trend as the sports media giant looks to reduce talent payrolls. Earlier, Front Office Sports had reported that long-time “SportsCenter” anchor Neil Everett’s contract was not renewed after 23 years with the network.
The network is also ending reportedly ending the Keyshawn Johnson, Max Kellerman, and Jay Williams national morning show.
As ESPN continues its efforts to streamline operations, more changes are expected to the network’s on-air lineup. It has been reported that Pat McAfee, known for his eponymous YouTube show, will be transitioning to ESPN later this year.
This move could potentially lead to the cancellation of Max Kellerman’s weekday afternoon show, “This Just In.”, per FOS.
As sports media continues to evolve and adapt to changing viewer preferences, networks such as ESPN are faced with the challenge of balancing their budgets while maintaining compelling content.
The departure of Rob Ninkovich from ESPN is just one example of the ongoing transformations within the industry as networks navigate the ever-changing landscape of sports broadcasting.