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There's Reportedly 'Palpable Insecurity' At ESPN After Recent Layoffs

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 1:13 PM ET

In recent years, ESPN has gone through several high-profile rounds of layoffs.

The Worldwide Leader has not been afraid to let go of expensive and accomplished talent. Among those who have been fired or laid off include Sam Ponder, Robert Griffin III, Jalen Rose, Zach Lowe, Max Kellerman, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber and others. The company also fired five top executives during a reshuffling last summer.

All of these changes have led to an unprecedented level of uneasiness in Bri stol, according to noted ESPN historian, author James Andrew Miller.

Miller, who wrote the book Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN, appeared on Bill Simmons' podcast this week, where, among other things, he discussed the current climate at ESPN.

The latest rounds of layoffs have employees on edge, Miller claims.

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“Freud — one of his definitions of maturity is the ability to handle ambiguity. So I think there are a lot of people becoming mature. Or else they’re drinking themselves silly on the weekends,” Miller said, via Awful Announcing. “Because it used to be — you know this — particularly because ESPN’s in Bristol, Connecticut, you gotta move your ass up to Central Connecticut. You put your kids in school. Everybody’s there for 25, 30 years. I mean, if you’re at CBS Sports and you don’t like it, or you get recruited to NBC, you’re just going across town.

“So a lot of people are there for 25, 30 years. Those jobs aren’t as safe as they used to be. And a lot of people were having a very difficult time, particularly since some real legends were laid off during these layoffs. So I think there’s a level of insecurity, a palpable level of insecurity, Bill, that’s never been there before.”

Simmons, who used to work at ESPN, agreed. While there are no reports of layoffs coming up in the immediate future, things can change quickly.

It sounds like the ESPN employees know that, which is why things are where they are.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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