• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Connor Schell, ESPN’s Top Content Executive, Leaving Company

  • ESPN’s executive vice president of content will depart by end of the year.
  • Schell helped produce hits like ‘The Last Dance’ and ‘OJ: Made in America.’
schell_smiling
Getty Images

Connor Schell, ESPN’s top content executive, is expected to leave the company by the end of the year. 

Schell, ESPN’s executive vice president of content, is making the decision voluntarily, said sources. 

The split between Schell and ESPN management led by President Jimmy Pitaro is amicable, sources said. ESPN declined to comment.

Schell has been a creative force behind some of ESPN’s biggest successes, serving as a producer on the 2020 Michael Jordan docu-series, ”The Last Dance” and the Oscar-winning 2016 documentary, “OJ: Made in America.”

Schell’s pending departure is a “crushing blow” to ESPN, according to media analyst Rich Greenfield of LightShed.

“As ESPN has tried to move away from live sports and expand content they own and control — nobody was more important to their future than Connor — this is a crushing blow but symptomatic of the secular decline of cable television,” Greenfield told Front Office Sports Nov. 8.

The surprise news of Schell’s departure comes only days after ESPN announced the worst job cuts in its 41-year history. The Worldwide Leader in Sports is laying off 300 workers, mostly behind-the-scenes production staffers, and letting 200 open jobs go unfilled.

The news also comes less than two weeks after Ryan Spoon, ESPN’s senior vice president of social and digital content, left the company to become BetMGM’s chief operating officer. 

espn_logo_on_camera

ESPN Announces Biggest Job Layoffs in 41-Year History

ESPN announced the largest layoffs in its 41-year history, cutting 300 staffers…
November 5, 2020

As EVP of content, Schell directly manages more people than anybody in Bristol with the exception of Pitaro.

Schell oversees everything from studio and remote production to digital and print content to ESPN Films and the company’s talent office.  He was named EVP of content by former President John Skipper in June 2017.

Schell made one of his first big splashes at ESPN by teaming with close friend Bill Simmons to create and launch the “30 for 30” documentary series. 

He was also the executive who pushed for Rachel Nichols’ NBA studio show, “The Jump,” and has been a huge proponent of anything and everything NBA inside ESPN, said sources.

But Schell’s star may have dimmed as the network’s NBA ratings cratered this year and Pitaro and Burke Magnus, executive vice president of programming, acquisitions and scheduling, turned their focus toward the NFL.

The COVID-19 “storm” has wreaked havoc with ESPN’s business, Pitaro said in an internal memo.

“Prior to the pandemic, we had been deeply engaged in strategizing how best to position ESPN for future success amidst tremendous disruption in how fans consume sports,” Pitaro wrote. “The pandemic’s significant impact on our business clearly accelerated those forward-looking discussions. In the short term, we enacted various steps like executive and talent salary reductions, furloughs and budget cuts, and we implemented innovative operations and production approaches, all in an effort to weather the COVID storm.”

“We have, however, reached an inflection point,” he added. “The speed at which change is occurring requires great urgency, and we must now deliver on serving sports fans in a myriad of new ways. Placing resources in support of our direct-to-consumer business strategy, digital, and, of course, continued innovative television experiences, is more critical than ever.”

Schell plans to start his own production company, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, who first reported his departure on Nov. 8.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Scott Foster

NBA Refs Testing Earpieces in Preseason Games

The technology won’t be used in the regular season yet.

ESPN Ends Its Wild-Card Coverage With Historic TV Ratings

Wild-card viewership surges 64% to a record in the current format.
Cody Campbell

Fox, ABC Reject Ad Accusing Power Conference Commissioners of Greed

Cody Campbell said the ads were pulled after he paid for them.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
Sponsored

How Soccer Star Jozy Altidore Became a Buffalo Bills Owner

Jozy Altidore discusses building a business legacy off the field.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.
Sep 18, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts as the Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream during game three of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
September 19, 2025

Fever Upset of Dream Brings Ratings Boost to WNBA Semis

The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.
September 17, 2025

Fever Ratings Fall Without Clark, but Rest of WNBA Game 1s Surge

The Indiana Fever game drew 47% fewer viewers this year.