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Former NFL player Ryan Clark is speaking out about his controversial exit from ESPN for the first time. During an episode of his wildly popular “Pivot” podcast, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star and Super Bowl champion slammed the famed sports network for allegedly lying about his departure. Elsewhere in his emotional statement, Clark said he believed the news that he’d been let go from ESPN was intentionally shared with a conservative sports outlet to draw attention to the slew of exits that were coming.

Ryan Clark Slams ESPN For Allegedly Lying About His Exit: ‘I Was Fired’

According to an earlier report from The Blast, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said that Clark, along with a handful of other on-air talent, were being let go from the company due to mass layoffs. In a leaked memo, the chairman said he was forced to make “difficult decisions” that were inevitable due to the ongoing changes behind the scenes.

However, Clark refuses to accept that narrative, telling his co-hosts and “Pivot” listeners that he was not laid off; he was instead fired. “Let me put this to bed, I wasn’t laid off. I was fired. They’re using layoffs as a cover and a camouflage for what they already intended on doing,” he said.

Ryan Clark Alleged ESPN Leaked The News Of His Exit To A Conservative Sports Outlet

Ryan Clark confirms ESPN executives leaked his firing to Outkick (a MAGA website) so the MAGA cult can celebrate his firing.

He says ESPN executives didn’t like how he stood up for Black people, including Angel Reese. pic.twitter.com/puVfspyNtp

— We Here Now 😎 (@AngelShedeway) July 24, 2026

There have been many rumors about how Clark learned his time with the network was coming to an end. Earlier reports suggested he was told while filming an episode of “NFL Live” and forced to leave; others said he had an idea that it was coming.

During the “Pivot” episode, Clark said that he received a text message from the showrunner informing him to call his boss. On the call, Clark’s boss told him that he was being let go and further added that it was a very difficult conversation for them both.

Later, Clark said he knew he’d been fired instead of laid off, like earlier reports claimed, because the conservative sports outlet OutKick was allegedly planning to leak the story before officials at ESPN could tell him.

“Let me tell you why I know I was fired. Because during the season, after some of the Kyren Lacy news broke, there were people on my network along with me that said something about it. Both of those people apologized, as did I. I didn’t want to, right? I was told I couldn’t come to work if I didn’t,” Clark said.

He then explained that after that moment, OutKick allegedly published an article praising two “prominent” faces at ESPN for apologizing about their commentary; however, the outlet villainized Clark.

“And so how poignant, how purposeful, is it to make sure that that’s the exact same publication that gets the story that I’m going to be fired?” he asked. “Cause you know what they’re going to do, they’re going to praise ESPN. They’re going to pump ESPN up for getting rid of the person who stands up for the community.”

Ryan Clark Said He Changed Who He Was To Keep His Job At ESPN

Clark admitted that he was “sad” to have been let go from ESPN after joining the roster of on-air talent in 2015, mainly because he changed who he was to fit in with the rest of the crew.

“I did adjust who I was to try and keep my job,” Clark said. “I did have meetings with people and say, ‘O.K., what is it that you need from me?’ Not the analyst. The analyst, he was d-mn good. If you care about the person on TV, what is it you need from me? Because I want to do that.”

Clark went on to say that he would typically never shy away from a topic, but on ESPN, he did in order to keep the peace. “I knew I couldn’t respond to disrespect,” he said. “I knew, for lack of a better word, I couldn’t be too Black.”

Clark Is Holding His Head High For This Reason

CraSH/imageSPACE / MEGA

Clark then began getting emotional during the episode and said that despite the change, he’s proud of what he accomplished at ESPN. “When I go home … and this kid from the West Bank is so accepted in New Orleans now, I wouldn’t change that, you know, never,” he said. “All I ever wanted to do was be accepted, so, yeah, I wouldn’t change.”

Clark Is Sending Love To Those Affected

Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN. So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now.

My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 21, 2026

Clark isn’t the only one who was let go from ESPN earlier this week. In addition to him, veteran NFL insider Tom Pelissero got the boot, along with former Carolina Panthers player Cam Newton.

In a post on X, Clark sent positive vibes their way and said he was rooting for them as they begin to pursue their next chapter. “My hope is as this door closes, another opens for you all. God bless!” he wrote.

The Ryan Clark Alleges ESPN Lied About His Controversial Exit From The Network first appeared on The Blast