It looks like there’s some major shake-up happening at ESPN!
Following a round of layoffs that included former NFL star Ryan Clark, Cam Newton has also been let go from the network as of Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
The former Panthers and Patriots quarterback—who spent a decade in the league—had become a familiar face on First Take, serving as a debate partner for Stephen A. Smith for the last two years. In fact, Newton had just signed a multi-year extension back in August 2025 to expand his role on the hit show. He was even tapped to take over for Shannon Sharpe as Smith’s main Monday co-host during football season, helping keep the show at its highest-rated day of the week.
So, what’s behind the big change? According to ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, the layoffs are a direct result of the network’s recent acquisition of NFL Network.
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“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired through ESPN,” Pitaro said in a memo, per Variety.
“Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structures to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.”