Ryan Clark Accuses ESPN of Leaking July 22 Firing to OutKick for Humiliation

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 18

Ryan Clark said on “The Breakfast Club” that ESPN singled him out by telling him during a July 22 “NFL Live” commercial break, then leaking the firing to OutKick to humiliate him.
Clark said every other laid-off employee was informed Tuesday, while he alone was told Monday on set, arguing the choice of OutKick showed ESPN wanted maximum embarrassment.
The report disputes that account, saying OutKick confirmed the layoff independently and contacted ESPN around 4 p.m. ET for comment before publishing; ESPN then told Clark at about 4:48 p.m.
According to the report, ESPN feared Clark would learn of the decision from OutKick, and executive Seth Markman—described as an ally—delivered the news directly, though the handling fueled the backlash.
The dispute extends a broader controversy over Clark’s exit after 11 years at ESPN, with the report saying his standing had weakened for months before the network’s wider layoffs.