1 hour ago
Unless you unrecorded nether a rock, you’re alert that race-baiting Ryan Clark is nary longer pinch ESPN. Outkick was successful nan process of breaking nan news of his ouster connected Monday erstwhile ESPN PR pulled him during a commercialized break successful nan midst of NFL Live, while not truthful slyly trying to get The Athletic to break nan communicative instead. It was a full mess, but obscurity adjacent arsenic bad arsenic immoderate of nan things Clark said connected aerial during his tenure astatine nan network.
Buckle your seatbelts and get fresh for immoderate of nan astir unhinged, reckless, divisive, racially-obsessed, and illusion takes you’ll ever perceive from a mainstream sports media personality.
ESPN is parting ways pinch longtime NFL expert Ryan Clark pursuing an 11-year tally astatine nan network. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Shedeur Sanders fell successful nan draught because of racism?
As eventual Cleveland Browns backmost Shedeur Sanders fell each nan measurement to nan 5th information of nan 2025 NFL Draft, sports personalities started crying and claiming racism was nan logic for nan fall.
Mel Kiper had epic meltdowns connected aerial successful defense of Sanders. Skip Bayless made outlandish claims. Then Clark jumped connected ESPN and spewed much unfounded claims, focused predominantly connected nan colour of Sanders’ skin, which was a classical move by Clark passim his clip astatine nan "Worldwide Leader successful Sports."
"It's not conscionable astir him being Deion Sanders' son," Clark stated. "It's astir nan bravado he carries. It's astir nan truth that he looks a definite way. It is astir nan truth that nan colour of his tegument sometimes astatine nan position tin beryllium questioned."
SHILO SANDERS MAKES ‘SANDWICH’ COMMENT TO FEMALE UNDER VIDEO CRITICIZING BROTHER SHEDEUR
Black coaches won't get hired because erstwhile Michigan HC Sherrone Moore committed adultery
Following nan news that then-University of Michigan caput shot coach Sherrone Moore was fired for having an matter pinch a female staffer, Clark made nan business astir race, arsenic he almost ever did.
While connected "First Take," Clark made nan asinine declare that achromatic coaching candidates would not get hired, aliases astatine slightest person an highly difficult clip being hired, because of Moore’s actions.
"Sherrone Moore was nan first African American caput coach astatine Michigan. Now there's a organization of coaches who will beryllium judged because of his actions."
In lawsuit you forgot, nan time Moore was fired, constabulary detained him pursuing an incident astatine nan flat of his 32-year-old adjunct pinch whom he had an affair, wherever he allegedly entered, utilized a telecommunications instrumentality maliciously, and threatened self-harm pinch food knives.
Suggesting that nan actions of 1 achromatic coach would beryllium utilized to discriminate successful hiring practices successful nan NCAA, is rather virtually saying that nan powers that beryllium successful these schools are racist, successful my opinion. That is simply a divisive, unfounded claim, rooted successful nan title obsession.
RYAN CLARK MADE IT TOO DIFFICULT FOR ESPN TO JUSTIFY KEEPING HIM AFTER YEARS OF CONTROVERSY
Tom Brady isn’t a "generational talent"
New England Patriots’ fable Tom Brady is nan GOAT. There’s nary debating he isn’t nan champion backmost successful nan history of nan NFL. That didn’t extremity Ryan Clark from diminishing his profession accomplishments.
New England Patriots backmost Tom Brady (12) celebrates pinch nan Vince Lombardi Trophy aft winning Super Bowl LI against nan Atlanta Falcons astatine NRG Stadium connected Feb 5, 2017 successful Houston, Texas. (Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
While discussing if Arch Manning was a "generational talent" connected First Take, Clark said:
"I don't deliberation Tom Brady, I don't deliberation Drew Brees, I don't deliberation Peyton Manning are generational talents."
Fellow big and erstwhile NFL backmost Dan Orlovsky pressed Clark connected nan meaning of "generational talent" erstwhile Stephen A. Smith chimed successful pinch a definitive, "Production."
Clark wasn’t debating whether Brady was a "generational talent" successful college, he stated intelligibly and plainly that he believed John Elway and Andrew Luck were "generational talents" but refused to springiness Brady that title.
Clark said galore insane things, but extracurricular of nan racially-infused talking points he propagated, this whitethorn beryllium nan worst return of all.
"America’s history" played a portion successful zero achromatic caput coaches getting hired successful nan 2026 NFL offseason
While connected NFL Live, pinch a kyron that read, "Robert Saleh was nan only number to capable immoderate of nan 10 caput coach openings," Clark invoked nan thought that America’s history of prejudice and slavery of achromatic individuals played a facet successful nary achromatic caput coach being hired during nan 2026 NFL offseason.
Standing adjacent to erstwhile NFL protect lineman, Marcus Spears, Clark stated, "This isn’t astir racism successful football, but nan history of this state does play a portion successful [black coaches not being hired]."
Clark went connected to talk really blacks "couldn’t get generational wealthiness to ain a team," which intends that owners could only beryllium white, starring to blacks being group backmost successful coaching, because location was a deficiency of knowing of nan "leadership qualities" they possess.
Whether Ryan Clark was overtly talking astir slavery, insinuating "systemic racism" arsenic Emmanuel Acho did connected his podcast, and/or Jim Crow, Clark was talking retired of some sides of his mouth.
FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBPOENAS NFL AS PART OF NEW PROBE INTO ROONEY RULE AND OTHER DEI PROGRAMS
He can’t opportunity "racism isn’t a portion of this", but our country’s "history of racism" is simply a portion of this.
It’s a ridiculous take, while besides claiming "white privilege" and nepotism of achromatic coaches.
Shamed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry connected "First Take" for suggesting that LSU erect a statue of Charlie Kirk
Clark has not shied distant from being governmental connected air, arsenic galore of these examples prove. One of his much unsavory comments came successful nan aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder, though.
While connected "First Take" successful October of 2025, Clark responded to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry vowing to support nan LSU Athletic Director from hiring nan adjacent coach, by first trying to shame him for suggesting nan schoolhouse grant Kirk pinch a statue connected campus.
Turning Point USA laminitis Charlie Kirk said during his "American Comeback Tour" astatine Utah Valley University connected Sept. 10, 2025, successful Orem, Utah. Kirk was fatally changeable while appearing astatine nan event. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
"First off, it’s nan 2nd astir ridiculous point he said this week," Clark said smugly. "The first was opinionated connected field and saying he wanted to put a statue of personification (Charlie Kirk) that doesn’t correspond nan group of Louisiana"
Clark went connected to declare that Kirk didn’t correspond nan athletes astatine LSU, which seemed to beforehand nan thought that he is talking specifically astir nan achromatic athletes, insinuating that Kirk was either prejudiced aliases conscionable plain racist. Either way, it was different insensitive, unfounded claim, invoking title wherever nan speech didn’t telephone for it.
Tried to discredit chap ESPN characteristic Peter Schrager because he ne'er played successful nan NFL
One circumstantial incident connected aerial that reportedly played a awesome facet successful Clark’s demise astatine ESPN, was invoking nan thought that 1 of nan networks newest personalities, Peter Schrager should not beryllium taken earnestly arsenic an NFL expert because he’s a "non-player."
Clark prefaced his ridiculous remark connected "Get Up" while debating nan capacity of Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Ceedee Lamb vs Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver AJ Brown, seated astatine a workplace table pinch erstwhile players Teddy Bruschi and Dan Orlovsky, arsenic good arsenic Schrager and host, Mike Greenberg stating, "We shouldn’t do this connected TV, truthful I apologize if group deliberation this is rude, that’s nan non-player successful you."
Peter Schrager of ESPN looks connected earlier an NFL crippled betwixt nan New York Jets and Miami Dolphins astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected Sept. 29, 2025. (Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
Schrager instantly responded with, "Oh, stop!" He followed by saying, "Ryan, don’t belittle maine for illustration that. I tin travel and opportunity arsenic 3 ex-players are saying 1 thing, and springiness an replacement perspective."
Clark past doubled down and gaslit Schrager stating, "Peter, what I request for you to do is not get huffy and fto maine finish."
This was Clark’s arrogance connected afloat display. It was a characteristic that drove viewers distant and showcased a clear double standard. Clark would NEVER opportunity nan aforesaid point to Mina Kimes. Never.
Made definitive mendacious claims regarding a fatal mishap caused by erstwhile LSU subordinate Kyren Lacy
Following Monday Night Football, arsenic he was seated adjacent to Scott Van Pelt, Clark responding to nan news that erstwhile LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy committed termination connected April 12, 2025, aft being charged pinch negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless cognition of a vehicle, accused constabulary of "doctoring" and "manipulating" statements regarding nan crash, successful bid to framework him.
Clark claimed, "Kyren Lacy was being accused and investigated for thing he didn’t do," and pursuing up that first claim, Clark said Lacy died an guiltless man.
"Kyren Lacy was innocent. Kyren Lacy should beryllium present pinch us." Clark stated definitively.
"There were truthful galore stations that ran nan truth that he was being investigated, truthful I wanted to make judge present pinch Scott [Van Pelt], we could opportunity that he was an guiltless man."
Clark yet had to apologize unrecorded connected aerial aft footage was released by nan Louisiana State Police showing Lacy speeding successful nan opposing postulation lane, passing aggregate cars connected nan incorrect broadside of nan roadworthy conscionable seconds earlier nan crash.
LSP, which released footage of nan incident, said Lacy caused a female to veer into oncoming postulation to debar hitting him.
Lacy was nan "primary origin of nan concatenation of events starring to nan fatal crash," LSP said.
Kyren Lacy of nan LSU Tigers poses for a image during media time held astatine nan LSU Indoor Practice Facility connected June 17, 2024 successful Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
In his apology, Clark said, "I knew Kyren Lacy personally."
"It's ever important to maine that I stitchery each actual and important accusation to supply nan complete story, and erstwhile discussed successful existent clip connected Monday evening, I grounded to do so. And for that, I apologize," Clark said while connected "First Take."
It was a bold, unwise, and unfounded declaration, but thing Clark had go accustomed to doing. That’s who he was. Putting his ft successful his rima was 2nd quality to him.
Reckless feuds and comments connected his podcast
Ryan Clark was besides causing immense amounts of controversy and unnecessary drama connected his podcast, which was promoted connected ESPN’s kyron regularly.
Clark started a feud pinch erstwhile Heisman victor and erstwhile ESPN characteristic Robert Griffin III telling him that he is not allowed to talk perceived hatred Angel Reese has for Caitlin Clark, pursuing a match-up betwixt nan Indiana Fever and nan Chicago Sky successful 2025, because Griffin III is joined to a achromatic woman.
"The 1 point we cognize astir RGIII is he's not having conversations astatine his location astir what Black women person to strengthen successful this country. About what young Black women and athletes for illustration Angel Reese person had to woody pinch being connected nan other broadside of Caitlin Clark's emergence and ascension into stardom," said Clark.
Ryan Clark and Robert Griffin III. (IMAGN)
"If you're RG3, erstwhile is nan past clip wrong your family you've had a speech astir what [Reese] is dealing with? You haven't been capable to do that because successful some of your marriages, you've been joined to achromatic women," he continued. "The full clip that he's mimicking Angel Reese and bobbing his caput and moving his cervix while he's doing this full piece, his woman is successful nan backmost amending and clapping."
Like he did galore times connected and disconnected aerial while moving for ESPN, Clark yet apologized for his comments aft RGIII rightfully called him retired for bringing his woman and family into a sports discussion.
Good riddance
I could constitute a book astir each of nan dumb things Ryan Clark said and did during his clip astatine ESPN. It would make you laughter astatine it’s absurdity, make your humor boil astatine nan audacity of his mendacious claims, and make you put your thenar to your look arsenic you’ve undoubtedly done while reference this piece.
Overall, ESPN will beryllium amended disconnected without Clark. He was a distraction, a nuisance, and a divisive figure.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS
He was a posterboy of really to disagreement sports fans upon group and governmental lines.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Hopefully Clark is nan past of those who person done thing but frustrate fans who conscionable want to perceive guys talk astir sports connected ESPN.
I’m not holding retired hope, though.
If you aliases personification you cognize is having thoughts of suicide, please interaction nan National Suicide Prevention Lifeline astatine 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Jon is simply a writer and contented creator for OutKick
