Less than two weeks ago, Ryan Clark fans were saddened when the up-and-coming media star announced that his contract with ESPN was up and that he was a “free agent.”
Oh, how quickly things change.
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Clark now has “verbally agreed to remain at the network.”
Front Office Sports reports that Clark’s new deal is worth over $2 million per year, which would make him one of the highest-paid NFL analysts in the industry.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers safety has become one of the star’s of ESPN’s NFL coverage. From his culturally hilarious takes on “First Take” to his unabashed opinions on player performances, Clark has risen to become a refreshing voice in sports broadcasting.
But Clark has also expanded his reach beyond ESPN as he hosts Inside the NFL on the CW Network and is one of the trio of hosts on the immensely popular podcast, The Pivot. Per Front Office Sports, his new deal will allow him to continue those duties.
Clark began his stint with ESPN in 2015 and has appeared on almost every studio show on the Network. This past May, the 44-year-old won his first Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Personality/Studio Analyst.”
This is a great outcome to an ugly and publicized divorce that erupted after the Super Bowl when Clark took to social media to announce his free agency and sound off on his situation.
“3 years ago I signed an extension with ESPN. I was so grateful for more time. I (was) excited to prove I was worth more, felt I deserved more. We disagreed & that’s ok. I set out on a mission to leave no doubt, end all conversations about who I was in this business,” posted Clark on X. “….I knew it would take effort. I knew that effort didn’t promise results, but I dug in. Here we are now. The season is over. The deal is up. Time to make a decision. Either way it goes. The mission didn’t change. I want to be the best doing it. Everyone should. I’m more motivated today than ever. I’m still the same #UndraftedFreeAgent!”
Today, it looks like Clark’s words hit home and ESPN wised up and recognized what they would be losing and anted up.
Congrats Ryan and we look forward to seeing you back on air soon!
