USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
Stephen A. Smith is speaking out after ESPN fired Ryan Clark.
This week, ESPN was set to lay off several employees months after completing the acquisition of the NFL Network. ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro sent a memo to employees informing them of the layoffs.
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote in a memo to staff, obtained by Front Office Sports. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future.
“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted.
“We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition. Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans.”
Unfortunately, Clark found out he was being laid off while he was on-air during NFL Live. On Tuesday, Smith spoke about Clark’s firing on his YouTube show.
“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, and I can’t even tell y’all how much that hurts.”
Smith went on to say that he confronted his bosses over Clark’s firing.
“I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I am not happy about this decision,” Smith declared.
“I’ve made that very, very clear. The only thing that I can definitively say to you is that there’s nobody that’s going to be let go that was more of a friend and a brother to me than Ryan Clark.”
“I just wish I could’ve been in enough of a powerful or influential position to prevent his exit from happening”
Stephen A. Smith just revealed live on his podcast that ESPN executives know he’s unhappy about Ryan Clark getting fired, adding that he wishes he had enough influence and power to prevent the decision:
“I am not happy about this decisions one bit, the bosses know I’m not happy… pic.twitter.com/JH3vhpg64k
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 21, 2026