• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Nate Silver Leads List Of Execs Laid Off By Disney and ESPN

  • His FiveThirtyEight blog will continue without him.
  • This week’s layoffs hammering off-camera talent.
ESPN
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

More names continue to emerge out from what’s shaping up as ESPN’s worst round of layoffs in years.

The looming specter of a layoff has hung over ESPN since parent Walt Disney Co. announced in February it would cut 7,000 jobs and $5.5 billion in costs. ESPN could lose up to 100 executives and staffers this week.

Over the first few days, ESPN’s radio/podcast operations and the FiveThirtyEight blog seem particularly hard hit. Some of the names identified as sadly leaving Disney/ESPN since the pink slips began flying Monday morning include: 

  • Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight. He was named as one of the “The World’s Most Influential People” by Time in 2009. That didn’t save him from the layoffs impacting high-salaried executives and off-camera talent. ESPN bought it in 2013.

“Disney layoffs have substantially impacted FiveThirtyEight. I am sad and disappointed to a degree that’s kind of hard to express right now,” Silver tweeted Tuesday. “We’ve been at Disney almost 10 years. My contract is up soon and I expect that I’ll be leaving at the end of it.”

Silver’s FiveThirtyEight colleagues Maggie Koerth, Chadwick Matlin, Alexandra Samuels, Anna Rothschild, Andrew Mangan, Curtis Yee and Elena Mejia also tweeted their layoffs on Tuesday.

“Looks like over half of the FiveThirtyEight newsroom got laid off (including me). Horrible day,” tweeted Mejia.

  • Russell Wolff, ESPN executive vice president and general manager of ESPN+. The longtime boss of international operations was once considered a candidate for the ESPN presidency held by Jimmy Pitaro and John Skipper. But the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Wolff was among those leaving the company. 

“The company has invested heavily in ESPN+, but has been cautious about moving major sports content from its TV channel to that service,” noted the WSJ.  “ESPN+, which had 24.9 million subscribers as of Dec. 31, streams live events from the National Hockey League and other leagues, as well as original programming. The service costs $9.99 a month and is also available in a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.”

Disney is open to potentially selling an equity stake in ESPN.

ESPN Hit By Disney-Mandated Layoffs

ESPN layoffs is part of Disney’s drive to slash 7,000 jobs.
April 24, 2023
  • Peter Gianesini, ESPN’s senior director of digital audio programming. The 25-year veteran announced on LinkedIn that his position had been eliminated during the current restructuring. Gianesini served at ESPN for 25 years. 

“Thank you to the talent who trusted me with their voice and their reputation. I never, ever took that responsibility lightly,” he wrote.

  • Mike Soltys, ESPN’s vice president of corporate communications. The beloved 43-year veteran is ranked as ESPN’s second-longest tenured employee. The PR executive joined the new network as an unpaid summer intern in 1980. His wife, Teresa, is undergoing her second round of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. 

Tributes poured in for Soltys, a savvy strategist who deftly massaged one crisis after another for the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

“There is no more demanding place to work in sports television than ESPN,” tweeted Fred Gaudelli, the longtime executive producer of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage. “The fact that @espnmikes flourished there for 43 years tells you all you need to know about Mike Soltys.”

Added former ESPN colleague Howie Schwab: “What makes me upset about Mike Soltys being laid off is twofold. After 43 years of loyalty, he couldn’t leave on his own terms. Second, he is going through a lot with his wife having cancer. Cruel business world now.”

  • Louise Cornetta, program director for ESPN Audio. She tweeted she was out after a 26-year run at the Worldwide Leader. “Excited for a new adventure…and never seeing snow again!” she wrote.
  • Scott McCarthy, vice president of ESPN Audio, is among the layoffs, according to Barrett Sports Media.
  • Ditto for Ryan Hurley, program director of ESPN’s 98.7 radio station in New York.
  • Plus, Amanda Brown, program director at the ESPN LA 710 radio station.

ESPN’s on-air talent will come under the microscope this summer as the last wave in the rolling layoffs. Talents with expiring contracts or with less than a year left on their deals will be vulnerable.

Some talents will be offered painful pay cuts for as much as half of their current salaries.

This is a developing story that will be updated

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL and College Football TV Ratings Continue to Surge, Especially for CBS

The network’s singleheader coverage Sunday drew huge viewership.

ESPN Ends Its Wild-Card Coverage With Historic TV Ratings

Wild-card viewership surges 64% to a record in the current format.
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.’”

Featured Today

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.

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.
FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe hits out of the rough on the first hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.
September 25, 2025

Ryder Cup in New York: Record-Setting Hopes and Fan Concerns

Organizers anticipate record attendance and revenue, but worry remains about fan behavior.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.
October 7, 2025

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
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.
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.
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.