Why were Keyshawn Johnson and Max Kellerman fired from ESPN despite years of service?

ESPN fired 20 of its top on-air personalities as part of parent company Disney's massive layoffs.

Why were Keyshawn Johnson and Max Kellerman fired from ESPN despite years of service?

Max Kellerman (L- ESPN Network) and Keyshawn Johnson (ESPN Network)

As part of Disney’s three-round layoffs, the leading sports media ESPN fired 20 top sports reporters and analysts on Friday. Some of the biggest names in the sports world were victims of the massive ESPN layoffs, including the long-term sports analyst Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson. The question arises why exactly did ESPN let go of its top sports personalities?

According to multiple reports, the firing of Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson is the result of several different reasons. But it is mainly due to the parent company Disney’s goal of getting rid of approximately 7,000 employees, as ordered by the company’s CEO, Bob Iger. Previously, ESPN focused on firing people who were working behind the scenes.

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But now, in the third round of their layoffs, some prominent names including Kellerman and Johnson got axed. Kellerman’s downfall began when he was ousted from the popular ESPN show First Take towards the end of 2021. The show’s host Stephen A. Smith decided to change the template of the debate show and got rid of Kellerman.

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Kellerman, who is an expert in boxing but works as an analyst for multiple major sports including the NFL, was paired with Keyshawn Johnson and Jay Williams on ESPN Radio’s morning program following his exit from First Take. Furthermore, he also got his afternoon show named “This Just In.” But his shows were simply just not as popular as First Take, thus he and his colleague became victims of ESPN’s mass layoffs.

Kellerman was making approximately $5 million per year in ESPN. Now that he’s out of ESPN, he will certainly receive interest from lots of other sports media outlets since he is an experienced sports analyst.

Keyshawn Johnson will get paid $18 million from ESPN despite his firing

The long-time ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson was recently fired by the leading sports media along with his colleague as part of their mass layoffs on Friday. However, it is not all bad news for Johnson. The former New York Jets wide receiver, who joined ESPN in 2007 immediately after his retirement, recently signed a 5-year deal worth up to $18 million with the Disney-owned sports media.

Keyshawn Johnson ESPN1
Keyshawn Johnson (Image via ESPN)

He is set to receive that full amount despite his firing. ESPN will be able to write off his contract, which would impress their shareholders. Nonetheless, Johnson is also a leading candidate to replace Shannon Sharpe as the co-host of the Fox Sports show UNDISPUTED, which is hosted by Skip Bayless.

The former Jets wideout will have to work with ESPN’s legal team if he wants to work for Fox Network or any other company. Now, Max Kellerman and Johnson’s colleague Jay Williams will probably work as NBA or college basketball analysts now that his radio program has been scrapped.

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