ESPN wasn’t able to call an audible with Ron Jaworski.
The former quarterback and longtime NFL analyst was among the mass layoffs at the Worldwide Leader in late April, and his job status had been a curiosity since he described himself in June as “in limbo” with the network he had been a part of since 1990.
According to a report in The Big Lead, ESPN tried to renege on its layoff to bring Jaworski back to work on its “NFL Matchup” show — only for Disney to shut down a potential reunion.
As more and more cut the cord, ESPN’s decline had an impact on Disney, its parent company, and the 100 or so laid off were a product of cost-cutting to achieve corporate-speak efficiency.
Jaworski, like many let go, still had a contract, his expiring in 2022. He indicated after the layoffs that his status still was uncertain.
“I wish I could give you a definitive answer, but I don’t have one,” Jaworski said on “The Doomsday Podcast” with Matt Mosley and Ed Werder in June. “I’m absolutely very grateful and thrilled to have worked at ESPN for 27 years. I still may continue to work at ESPN. I do not know what the future is going to hold. I still have a contract with them until May 31 of 2022, and if they choose to want to use me in some other areas, that is being talked about with my agent basically as we speak. So I’m a guy in limbo right now. But I do want to continue some broadcasting. I love what I do.”
His wanting to keep working and ESPN wanting his work was not enough to sway Disney.
Both Jaworski’s agent and ESPN declined comment to The Big Lead.