PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 15: Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis spends time on the field before the start of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis is yet another victim of the ESPN layoffs. The Sporting News reports that Bettis who appeared on NFL Live, SportsCenter and ESPN Radio was one of the 100 writers, reporters, analysts and anchors who were let go.

Of the 100 people laid-off, about 75 have made their cuts known either through social media or media interviews. In Bettis’ case, he did not tweet or post on Facebook that he was let go. Instead, the Sporting News learned through sources that Bettis was laid off.

Bettis joined ESPN in 2013 after he was with NBC Sports and Football Night in America as well as NFL Network.

According to the Sporting News, neither ESPN nor Bettis would confirm his dismissal, but he has not appeared on the network since the layoffs were conducted. It adds to the NFL staffers who have been laid off including Ed Werder, Trent Dilfer, Jade McCarthy, Ron Jaworski, Merril Hoge, Britt McHenry and Sara Walsh.

With so many NFL analysts on ESPN, you may not have been aware that Bettis was on the network, but it does leave several NFL staffers still at ESPN. And there are those who have yet to make their layoffs public.

Bettis is yet another name in the ESPN layoffs. If he wants to remain in TV, he’ll have to move to another network, but as with many of the contracts, ESPN will pay those laid off not to work for the duration otherwise, they’ll have to work on other beats or sports until the contracts expire.

The layoffs have not discriminated from those who have worked at ESPN for decades or like Bettis, just a few years. It’s a tough time at the Worldwide Leader and it’s likely going to continue for a while.

[Sporting News]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.