Among the many changes coming to the NFL Network is the departure of one of its most high profile employees, with Awful Announcing confirming that the league-owned cable channel has opted not to renew Michael Irvin’s contract.
News of Irvin’s departure from the NFL Network, where he has been an analyst since 2009, was first reported by the New York Post.
The Playmaker’s departure from the network comes amid a series of cost-cutting moves, including at least two rounds of layoffs over the course of the past month. After the league let go of talents such as Andrew Siciliano, James Palmer, Melissa Stark and Will Selva in April, Front Office Sports’ A.J. Perez reported on Friday that the league recently concluded another round of layoffs, with Awful Announcing confirming a shift in the network’s strategy, including a reduction original content headlined by the elimination of NFL Total Access.
Regarding the changes, an NFL spokesperson told Awful Announcing: “Like any successful organization, the NFL regularly evaluates its workforce to ensure the proper support of strategic priorities including international expansion, the growth of flag football, and the evolution of digital and media platforms. We have made the difficult decision to part ways with some employees to allow us to further invest in these growth areas and ensure the continued strength of our game and the business.”
Suffice to say, the NFL Network faces no shortage of uncertainty, including the status of Good Morning Football. With the show remaining on hiatus while shifting its production from New York City to Los Angeles, it’s unclear whether Kyle Brandt, Peter Schrager and/or Jason McCourty will be joining host Jamie Erdahl when the show returns near the start of NFL training camps this summer.
As for Irvin, the Hall of Fame wide receiver has been a reoccurring co-host of FS1’s Undisputed since last August. In January, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that the Allen Police Department in Texas was investigating the Miami (Fla.) product for an unspecified allegation.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.