Former NFL star Rob Ninkovich is set to leave his post as an analyst at ESPN as his contract will not be renewed.
Ninkovich moved into television after retiring in 2016 following an 11-year career in the NFL. He joined ESPN in 2019, appearing as a prominent figure throughout the network’s NFL coverage on popular shows such as ’NFL Live’ and ‘Get Up’.
However, ESPN are cutting costs at the moment with plenty of staff members being laid off with more expected to follow. The two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker is simply another big name to fall on the payroll after long-time ‘SportsCenter’ anchor Neil Everett’s contract was not renewed after 23 years with the network.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Ninkovich will leave ESPN as his contract will be left to expire this summer without renewal. The network is also ending reportedly ending the Keyshawn Johnson, Max Kellerman, and Jay Williams national morning radio show, ‘Keyshawn, JWill, & Max’.
This move could potentially lead to the cancellation of Kellerman’s weekday afternoon show, ‘This Just In’. Previously, ESPN completed its fifth wave of layoffs in the past decade, letting go of executives such as John Dahl, the Emmy Award-winning mastermind producer behind the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls documentary, ‘The Last Dance’.
More changes are expected as ESPN continues to streamline operations, with other talents like Ninkovich to be left without contract renewal while others will have their contract bought out. These moves are being made ahead of the arrival of Pat McAfee, who is bringing his popular YouTube show to the network later this year.
Ninkovich’s departure from ESPN is an example of the transforming media industry as networks scramble for viewership through sports broadcasting content. With a big name like McAfee set to earn millions, the company was forced to balance its budget.
The New Orleans Saints selected Ninkovich in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He spent one season with the NFC South franchise before returning in 2008 after two years with the Miami Dolphins.
The 39-year-old signed with the New England Patriots in 2009, where he became a mainstay on defence. He once started every game for five successive seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings before calling time on his career.
