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The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand rejoins John to break down ESPN’s recent layoffs, which hit more than 100 employees. They explain why the NFL Network acquisition—and the massive salaries commanded by the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee—set the stage for the cuts. They also discuss the SEC’s stance on the Protect College Sports Act, streaming’s growing influence over NFL rights, the future of NFL Network under ESPN, and more.
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"What ESPN’s Layoffs Really Signal" is an episode of The Varsity. Runtime 43 min. Published July 26, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
