How Ryan Clark Really Got Fired from ESPN

The Layoff, the Leak, and the Politics Behind Ryan Clark’s Exit

Back when Stephen Colbert was funnier, he had this running gag in his Colbert Report Bill O’Reilly satire character. When commenting on racial matters, Colbert would make a big show of literal color blindness. “I don’t see color,” Colbert would bellow. He’d inform the viewer that he “doesn’t even see race, not even my own.”

I’m reminded of that when reading mainstream reports that omit obvious political dynamics. There’s a politics component to Ryan Clark getting unceremoniously booted from ESPN on Monday, ahead of broader Tuesday layoffs, but you won’t see that in most outlets that cover the news. “Politics” also wasn’t necessarily the triggering event here, but how he got fired has a lot to do with political divisions at ESPN.

Our guy Ryan Glasspiegel was all over what specifically would get the former safety axed, back in September.