PITTSBURGH, PA — It's been said that sports can be cruel and the same can be said about the cutthroat world of sports broadcasting.
ESPN on Monday fired football analyst Ryan Clark, a former Steeler who played in two Super Bowls with the team, in the middle of his appearance on "NFL Live" on Monday. He did not finish the show after receiving the news.
According to The Athletic, Clark, 46, was informed about his departure during the show because ESPN was concerned about a possible leak and that he would hear the news before he was officially notified by the network.
Clark had been with ESPN for 11 years and reportedly was making $2 million per year.
Clark, played for the Steelers from 2006 to 2013, becoming a key player on the team's Steel Curtain defense. The starting safety helped the team defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII (27-23) in 2009. He also helped the team reach Super Bowl XLV in 2011, though they lost to the Green Bay Packers (31-25).
After his termination, Clark shared his thoughts on Instagram.
“Proof of Life,” Clark stated. “Before the madness of yesterday, I woke up, got in my Tundra, drove to Planet Fitness, and got to work. The rest of the day was eventful, but the journey continues.
“My peace is with God, and my humility comes from within. I’ll continue to build myself so the world can never strip me of what’s real. Get moving today y’all!"
ESPN was expected to announce further layoffs on Tuesday as it undergoes a staffing restructuring.
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