More layoffs expected at ESPN with Suzy Kobler and Steve Young emerging as favorites for
ESPN is ‘preparing for raft of on-air layoffs with Suzy Kolber and Steve Young among those at risk’ – as network prepares for arrival of $85m host Pat McAfee
More layoffs are expected at ESPN over the summer, just four months after the USA’s largest sportscaster announced a 7,000 jobs-cut, with several on-air personalities whose names don’t ring to the average sports fan appearing to be the most at risk.
Cutbacks of on-air ‘talent’ are expected to occur toward the end of June, according to Andrew Marchand, of The New York Post, though the exact timing of these firings is ‘subject to change’, given that the situation is ‘fluid.’
The network’s executives are thought to be currently going over the names of staff members who could be eligible for dismissal. Those who are close to be getting the sack ‘are the ones who make a lot and don’t work that much’, per Marchand.
DailyMail.com has reached out to ESPN for a request to comment.
NFL sideline reporter Suzy Kolber, whose worked at ESPN for almost 30 years, is one of the few names mentioned alongside Steve Young’s that could be called upon to leave the company.
ESPN staffers are ‘upset’ with ESPN’s decision to hire Pat McAfee on an eight-figure salary
Suzy Kolber could depart from the sports network after covering the NFL for ESPN for 30 years
Super Bowl champion and ex-NFL quarterback Steve Young (second from left) could also leave
Kobler was hired by ESPN in 1993 and took a three-year break in the late 1990s, when she worked at Fox before re-joining her current employer.
After playing 15 seasons in the NFL and winning three Super Bowls, Young – a former quarterback for the Los Angeles Express, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers – contributed to ABC’s coverage of Super Bowl XXXIV (2000), XXXVII (2003) and XL (2006) as a studio analyst.
Laura Rutledge could reportedly take over for Kolber on Monday Night Football, if the latter goes.
Ever since Disney CEO Bob Iger rejoined ESPN’s parent company in November, the sportscaster has migrated to a star-driven model, with only a small handful of on-air talent allowed to rack up the big bucks.
That also means the routine of on air talents who earned large salaries exceed their current name value is no more.
Ever since Bob Iger rejoined Disney, ESPN’s shifted to a star-driven model for its on-air talent
Cutbacks of ESPN’s on-air personalities are expected to occur toward the end of June
In February, ESPN slashed 7,000 jobs worldwide to save $5.5 billion in costs.
What’s more is that ESPN employees were said to be ‘upset’ with Disney following the announcement of Pat McAfee joining the network.
Reports have stated that ESPN gave McAfee an eight-figure annual contract ($85M) after he walked away from his four-year, $120m contract with FanDuel, bringing his famed ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ along with him.
The first wave of ESPN layoffs took place on April 24, and saw well respected names like John Dahl, the executive producer of the famed documentary ‘The Last Dance’, as well as communications specialist Mike Soltys and Nate Silver, leave.
The next set of layoffs is said to also include off-air members of the production and camera staff, along with high-salaried executives.