ESPN is preparing to lay off NFL analyst Ryan Clark, according to multiple sources cited by OutKick, with the move expected to be confirmed as part of a wider round of cuts. The timing is notable, as it comes shortly before the network broadcasts its first Super Bowl, a landmark moment for ESPN's NFL coverage that will now proceed without one of its established on-air analysts.

Clark, a former NFL safety who has become a prominent studio analyst for the network, is reported to be among those affected. The layoffs could reportedly be announced as soon as the following Tuesday, though ESPN has not yet issued an official confirmation, and further details on the scope of the cuts remain unclear.