ESPN is taking a business-as-usual approach to Monday’s NFL Live, with both Ryan Clark and Peter Schrager expected to appear on the show, sources tell Front Office Sports.
The two NFL analysts publicly clashed on the air during Friday’s episode of Get Up, with Clark curtly dismissing Schrager’s opinion as that of a “non-player.” Schrager visibly bristled at the insult, and the dispute continued off the air, creating an “uncomfortable” tension around the set of the morning show. Clark apologized to Schrager via X/Twitter. It was the second time this year he’s had to publicly apologize for his comments.
Despite Friday’s faceoff, both Clark and Schrager are expected to appear on NFL Live this afternoon before tonight’s Bears-Vikings Monday Night Football opener in Chicago. At some point, Clark and Schrager are expected to be on the air together.
After winning a Sports Emmy award for Outstanding Studio Analyst in 2023, Clark was promoted to ESPN’s long-running pregame show on Aug. 21, 2023, along with new host Scott Van Pelt and analyst Marcus Spears.
During Friday’s episode of Get Up, a five-person panel was discussing the Eagles-Cowboys game from the night before. After Schrager asked Dan Orlovsky if he thought that A.J. Brown had a better game than CeeDee Lamb, Clark interjected, “We shouldn’t do this on TV, so I apologize if people think this is rude: That’s the non-player in you.”
“Oh, stop… Ryan, don’t belittle me like that,” Schrager responded. “I can come in and say, as three ex-players are saying one thing, and give an alternative perspective.”
While host Mike Greenberg appeared to make the “cut” sign, Clark continued: “What I need for you to do is not get mad, and let me finish for once.”
FOS reported over the weekend that the “uncomfortable” tension spilled over into the commercial break creating a tense moment around the set of Get Up.
On Friday night, Clark apologized to Schrager on Twitter/X for the interaction. It was the second time this year the former Super Bowl champion with the Steelers has had to publicly apologize for his comments.
“Today, I had an interaction with my colleague @PSchrags both on and off the air that I regret,” he tweeted. “I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership. I value working with Peter and look forward to this season. My focus will remain on professionalism, teamwork, and being a better teammate moving forward.”
Schrager extended his fist to Clark at the start of Monday’s NFL Live as they were introduced, and Clark bumped it.
Clark has tested ESPN management before. Back in 2024, he took the unusual step of publicly campaigning for a new contract on social media after his previous deal expired. But his gamble paid off, with Clark signing a new deal worth an estimated $2 million per year. The analyst was nominated for another Sports Emmy for Best Studio Analyst this year, along with ESPN colleagues Orlovsky and Kirk Herbstreit. But Charles Barkley of TNT Sports won the award.
ESPN declined to comment on the situation.
