Mike Golic calls state of affairs at ESPN Radio a ‘damn shame’ as layoffs loom

The state of ESPN Radio has been pretty bleak these days, and former host Mike Golic expressed his dismay about where things are headed.

The Post exclusively reported Wednesday that ESPN was planning on scrapping its nationally syndicated morning radio show with hosts Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman. 

The move is part of the network’s planned “restructure” that would include “significant on-air layoffs”

Once the news made its way to social media, Golic expressed his sadness over the situation. 

“Damn shame and very sad what has become of ESPN Radio,” Golic said Thursday in a response to Andrew Marchand’s report. 

Golic co-hosted one of ESPN’s most well-known radio programs, “Mike & Mike,” which aired for 17 years. 

ESPN has struggled to find a successful successor for the long-running program, which ended on Nov. 17, 2017. 

The network launched its replacement 10 days later, with Golic staying on to co-host with Trey Wingo, but the show was canceled in July 2020.

ESPN Radio had been hit hard by earlier layoffs to non-talent layoffs, while significant on-air talent layoffs are expected to come next week, The Post reported. 

The network will have a new national morning radio show, but the hosts likely aren’t going to make the same high-priced salaries as they had in the past. 

Nationally syndicated sports talk has struggled in more recent years as podcasts have seemingly filled holes in sports talk programming. 

Major markets, such as New York, have turned to local programing over national sports talk options. 

In one example, 98.7 FM ESPN New York did not air ESPN Radio’s national morning show, rather opting for local hosts Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg.  

On the whole, the future of ESPN Radio remains up in the air.