Steve Young on the ESPN Monday Night Football Countdown set Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Next round of ESPN layoffs expected to hit Steve Young, others

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jun 5, 2023 7:49 PM ET

ESPN will reportedly cut ties with some of its talent who have higher salaries and little air time including former San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young and NFL sideline reporter Suzy Kolber, according to a report from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in March that ESPN would cut 7,000 jobs company-wide across all divisions—the first of which happened in April. The next surge is expected to happen near the end of June with an expected third wave sometime later this year.

Though on-air talent is not exempt, it’s believed they will be given the option to take significant pay cuts (reportedly up to 50 percent of their salary) to remain with the company. The timing of the layoffs paints ESPN in a negative light after signing Pat McAfee to a five-year, $85 million deal at the end of May. Young and Kolber are not the only well-known figures expected to be released.

EXCLUSIVE: Chris Chelios' contract won't be renewed by ESPN, sources told @FOS. The Hall of Famer has worked as an in-studio analyst since NHL game coverage returned to ESPN in 2021. Other notable personalities expected to part ways in the coming days. https://t.co/2txsWOKDZw
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) June 5, 2023

Young joined ESPN in 2000 and began working for the network full-time in 2001. He contributed to coverage of several Super Bowls and worked as an analyst on “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “Monday Night Countdown,” as well as appearing on several other shows.

Kolber has worked for ESPN from 1993 to 1996 and then again from 1999 to now. Her assignments have mostly been NFL-related, but she’s also dipped into the X Games, NASCAR and a few tennis events including French Open and Wimbledon.

She’s most known for hosting “NFL Live” and her work as a sideline reporter on “Monday Night Football.” She’s also appeared on several other ESPN programs including “NFL Matchup,” “Monday Night Countdown,” “NFL Insiders” and “SportsCenter.”

“NFL Live” Laura Rutledge is the reported favorite to replace Kolber as the pregame host for MNF, according to Marchand.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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