ESPN sent shockwaves throughout the sports broadcasting industry, confirming Friday that it had laid off 20 employees in their on-camera positions, all popular names that had established themselves as regulars on the network.
One massive casualty was Keyshawn Johnson, a familiar face and respected sports analyst who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. The news of these layoffs raises questions about the future direction of ESPN and leaves fans wondering how these changes will shape the network in the future.
Johnson, a highly accomplished wide receiver, enjoyed a successful 11-year stint in the NFL following an illustrious college career at USC. With his undeniable talent, he was chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 1996 NFL Draft and joined the esteemed Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000.
Notably, in 2001, he was honored with his third Pro Bowl selection, marking his first as a member of the Buccaneers. The former NFL receiver found chemistry with quarterback Brad Johnson and helped transform the offense.
Paired with esteemed coach Jon Gruden, he played a pivotal role in the team’s 2002 Super Bowl, despite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers odds showing them as underdogs. He also caught a critical touchdown in the NFC Championship Game that helped propel the Bucs over the Eagles.
Johnson had an impressive four seasons during his time with the Buccaneers from 2000 to 2003. He showcased his skills by catching a total of 298 passes for 3,828 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns with the team. Not only that, he never missed a single game, starting in all 57 games he played. His average of 67.2 receiving yards per game during his time in Tampa was the highest he achieved for any team throughout his career.
However, a rift with Gruden forced the team to deactivate the star receiver prior to the 2003 season concluding. He latched on with his former head coach, Bill Parcells, and the Cowboys in 2004 and 2005. After a fruitful career spanning ten seasons, Johnson retired in 2006 after a season with the Carolina Panthers. His impressive stats include amassing an impressive 10,571 receiving yards, achieved through 814 receptions, and securing 64 touchdowns.
Johnson successfully transitioned into a second career in media after his long and successful tenure in the NFL. He made his debut in the broadcast industry during the 2007 NFL Draft. After a popular showing, ESPN hired him full-time, and he became one of the faces of ESPN NFL Gameday.
Johnson just signed a 5-year, $18 million extension with the network, all of which he will collect while he likely latches on with another network. During the next few months, Johnson plans to explore new opportunities in the sports media industry and carefully determine his next career move.
The roots of Johnson’s departure from ESPN date back to Disney CEO Bob Iger’s February announcement. Disney, the parent company of ESPN, reported they’d be making roughly 7,000 layoffs as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce costs.
Other ESPN stars to be let go include Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, announcer Suzy Kolber, and analysts Jalen Rose, David Pollack, Todd McShay, Matt Hasselbeck, Jeff Van Gundy, Chris Chelios, and Rob Ninkovich.
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