Disney Cuts Nearly 100 TV Jobs, Ousting Nat Geo SVP Charlie Parsons

Q: With its first Super Bowl looming, who will ESPN tap to replace the polarizing Ryan Clark on its biggest stage?

No replacement has been identified publicly. What is known is that ESPN is preparing for its first English-language Super Bowl broadcast, Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027, and Ryan Clark’s expected exit would leave a hole on the studio side, not in the game booth. The main game telecast is already anchored by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, with Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge on the sidelines, so the open question is who fills Clark’s role in the pregame and studio coverage. The reporting says ESPN is weighing both internal and external candidates, but no name has been confirmed. The strongest internal clue is Jason McCourty, whom ESPN recently re-signed to a multi-year deal tied to its signature NFL studio programming and Super Bowl preparations. That does not make him the confirmed choice, but it places him among the most plausible in-house options. Other established ESPN NFL figures such as Adam Schefter and Laura Rutledge are expected to be central to Super Bowl week coverage across platforms, though their existing roles are already well defined. External possibilities are harder to assess because no credible reporting has named a specific outsider for Clark’s seat. So, at this stage, the accurate answer is that ESPN has not announced who will replace Ryan Clark. The network appears to be keeping its options open as it reshapes its NFL studio lineup ahead of its biggest event.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 21

Charlie Parsons, National Geographic’s SVP of development, is leaving after more than 15 years as Disney cut just under 100 jobs across Disney Entertainment Television on Tuesday.
National Geographic was among the hardest-hit units, with additional departures including development directors and Terry Danuser, VP of casting and talent relations.
Josh D’Amaro had signaled the cuts in April, saying Disney would streamline operations across parts of the company to protect creativity and innovation.
Parsons helped develop major Nat Geo titles including One Strange Rock, Hostile Planet and Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, while some layoffs also reached ABC News.
The move adds to a broader Disney retrenchment the same day, with earlier reports of layoffs at ESPN tied to integration after its NFL deal.