A former NFL all-pro could find himself out of a job at ESPN fairly soon.
The majority of ESPN’s layoffs have been people behind-the-scenes, so fans aren’t feeling the change they said would be coming to the Worldwide Leader in Sports. However, ESPN SportsCenter host Neil Everett and NFL analyst Rob Ninkovich are two big names that have been ousted in recent weeks.
According to Outkick, longtime ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson could be out of a job. Johnson reportedly makes roughly $5 million per year at ESPN.
“Sources tell OutKick Johnson makes about the same as Kellerman and has multiple years left on his deal. A natural landing spot post-radio does not exist for Johnson, particularly one in which ESPN could justify his salary,” Outkick reported.
“Johnson also recently moved back to Los Angeles, where he plans to stay. At most, he could appear on studio shows remotely, a role hardly worth $5 million annually.”
ESPN signed Johnson to a four-year contract worth around $18 million last year.
Signs were evident when ESPN scrapped the radio show with Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams, and Max Kellerman.
ESPN is expected to buy out some deals, a way to reduce numbers on the books, while still actually paying people the money they are owed.
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If Johnson is bought out, it could send him into free agency and make him a possible candidate for Skip Bayless as a replacement for Shannon Sharpe on Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed.”
Johnson lives in Los Angeles, where Fox Sports is located.
