Ryan Clark may have suffered a tough blow when he was laid off from ESPN earlier this year, but he is moving forward on his own in a major way.
After a partnership with NFL Films launched a new weekly sports show through his production company, The Pivot, Clark has even bigger news. Pivot25 Productions has landed former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz as an investor and strategic partner.
“I have always believed that the most enduring businesses are built at the intersection of great ideas, authentic leadership and human connection,” Schultz said in the press release announcing the partnership. “We are living through a profound transformation in media. Audiences are increasingly choosing people and platforms they trust over traditional institutions, and the barriers between sports, business, culture and entertainment are disappearing.”
“Howard has always understood that the strongest brands begin with a clear purpose and a genuine relationship with people. That’s what he did with Starbucks. He built a company around human connection, belonging and an experience people wanted to make part of their lives,” Clark added about the move. “That is exactly the kind of partner we want as we enter this next stage. Howard respects what we have built, but he also sees possibilities for Pivot25 that extend far beyond where we are today. His experience, relationships and belief in our vision will help us build the company with greater intention, discipline and ambition.”
The former LSU and Pittsburgh Steelers star was arguably the most shocking name laid off by ESPN earlier this summer, given his notoriety at the network. He was a cornerstone of ESPN’s NFL programming as one of the network’s top studio analysts. But after a series of controversies that dimmed his star power, the worldwide leader decided to move on.
Clark has said he has a non-compete clause through February and would only return to television under certain circumstances, especially given the cruel way his exit was handled.
But at this point, he may not need to return to a television job, thanks to the opportunities growing at his own production at The Pivot. It’s not every day that a man worth billions of dollars decides to personally invest in your company.
It will be fascinating to see what Howard Schultz brings to the table and the doors that might open for Clark. Selling iced mocha frappuccinos and independent sports podcasts are two very different things. But it is worth noting that Schultz’s son, NFL insider Jordan Schultz, appeared on the first episode of The Pivot Sports with his own segment. Schultz also went in the YouTube direction after leaving Fox Sports last year. Maybe that’s a coincidence… maybe it’s not.
Regardless, the Schultz investment and partnership is a significant development for Ryan Clark. And it’s further proof that personalities can succeed and thrive on their own without a major network platform. Clark and The Pivot have amassed a huge following on social media. His Week 2 NFL show already has over 300,000 views in less than a day. That makes it an enormous success already. And if it’s just the beginning, then who knows what the limits might be as Clark’s independent work goes from here.
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