Report: 49ers great Steve Young let go by ESPN after 22 years
Jun 30, 2023, 12:03 PM | Updated: 2:10 pm
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
ESPN has been making some serious cuts this week, with Steve Young one of the latest to let go by the sports entertainment giant.
Reports surfaced Friday that the former 49ers quarterback has been laid off by ESPN, ending a 22-year tenure with the network. Steve Young, 61, has spent the last few years on the desk of Monday Night Football, a regular contributor to the program. He joins former show host, Suzy Kolber, on the lists of layoffs Friday, signaling a big change in the network’s approach next season.
A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports was first to report the news.
BREAKING: Steve Young is being laid off by ESPN, a source told @byajperez.
The Hall of Fame QB was with the network for 22 years.https://t.co/gbbri0YTF1 pic.twitter.com/ELeGqdQpIM
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 30, 2023
ESPN’s parent company, Disney, has made it known that layoffs were expected for sports giant, amidst the uncertainty of the current economical climate. Disney CEO Bob Iger stated in February that the company would be seeing close to 7,000 employees left go in 2023.
The worldwide leader in sports has followed suit.
“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead,” ESPN said in a statement.
“This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.”
Among the ever-growing list of on-air talent let go is Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson, Max Kellerman, and Todd McShay.
More cutbacks are expected in the coming days and months.
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