Rob Ninkovich won’t have ESPN contract renewed as cuts at network continue

Rob Ninkovich’s contract at ESPN won’t be renewed as part of the network’s spate of layoffs, Front Office Sports reported Friday. 

The former Patriot and two-time Super Bowl Champion joined ESPN in 2019 and was an on-air personality on programs including “NFL Live,” “Get Up” and “SportsCenter.” 

According to Front Office Sports, his contract will expire this summer.

Ninkovich, 39, is the latest addition to a long list of big-name talent and management that have been in the middle of the turnover at ESPN.

Most recently, ESPN cut its national morning radio show with Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman, The Post exclusively reported. 

“SportsCenter” anchor Neil Everett, who had been with ESPN for 23 years, bid farewell to the network earlier in June along with NHL analyst Chris Chelios.  

Disney –– ESPN’s majority owner –– announced in February a plan to cut 7,000 jobs across the company, leading to the restructuring at ESPN. 

Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, said the changes are part of a $5.5 billion cost-cutting goal. 

The Post reported in April that ESPN is looking to slim down existing seven-figure contracts, specifically talent making $2 million-$5 million per year. 

The layoffs, which started in April, are happening in three rounds as each department figures out how they’ll produce a quality product with fewer hands on deck. 

More cuts are anticipated as the summer goes on, but the exact number of layoffs at ESPN is not clear. 

ESPN laid off 300 people in 2015 under then-network president John Skipper, followed by 250 in 2017 as well as 300 in 2020 under current president Jame Pitaro.