The biggest takeaway from ESPN’s decision to part ways with Ryan Clark is that it opens up a seat on the network’s coverage of its first-ever Super Bowl this February.
Clark was one of three commentators on “Monday Night Countdown,” which is expected to serve as ESPN’s official Super Bowl and halftime show. Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears are the other commentators, and Scott Van Pelt is expected to return as host.
From ESPN’s perspective, the timing makes sense. The Super Bowl halftime show can draw more than 140 million viewers. The network couldn’t let Clark represent the brand during its biggest broadcast, given his history of great voices.
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So, here are five more versions of ESPN:
Kurt Warner
Of the internal candidates, Kurt Warner makes a lot of sense.
As part of ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network assets, the company now has access to Warner. He would give the network a Hall of Fame quarterback on the panel, something that was common for the NFL’s biggest shows.
Troy Aikman is the only Hall of Fame quarterback on ESPN’s list, but he’ll be in a position to call the game.
One planning hurdle remains. Warner currently serves as the lead analyst for Westwood One’s “Monday Night Football” broadcasts, including the Super Bowl.
Sources tell OutKick ESPN could use Warner for the pregame show because he’s already in place every week for the radio broadcast. He will have to leave his Westwood One duties, however, to work as an analyst for ESPN during the break.
As WFAN’s Craig Carton argued this week, Warner would likely choose television over radio, if he could get out of his contract. Whether that will happen is not yet clear.
Nov 10, 2022; Munich, Germany; Kurt Warner reacts during the Seattle Seahawks practice at FC Bayern Munich at Sabener Strabe. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Steve Smith Sr.
Steve Smith Sr. is another ESPN analyst inherited from the NFL Network.
Interestingly, Smith may also take on some of Clark’s day-to-day responsibilities. Sources say he impressed ESPN’s decision makers during his “First Take” appearance at the NFL Draft. As the network plans to better split the guest list between “First Take” and “Get Up” this season, Smith may land a regular role on one or both shows.
That also makes him a logical candidate for “Monday Night Countdown.”
NFL GameDay Kickoff analyst Steve Smith Sr. before the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports)
Dan Orlovsky
Dan Orlovsky is the lead daily NFL analyst for ESPN and can provide the panel with a former quarterback.
He also differs from Ryan Clark in one important respect. There are few people at ESPN who are less likely to veer from football to unrelated topics than Orlovsky. Such decision-making is looked down upon.
Orlovsky has become one of the network’s most recognizable NFL voices with “NFL Live,” “Get Up,” “Take It First,” and “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Planning can be a big hurdle. Last season, Orlovsky stayed in New York for Monday’s “Wake Up” and “First Take” instead of going with NFL Live to the Monday football site.
ESPN may decide he’s more important to bolstering its morning lineup, especially after moving on from Cam Newton. Orlovsky and his representatives could easily argue for a schedule that allows him to do both, by moving his morning show responsibilities to later in the week.
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I’m Kimes
To be clear, we are not suggests that ESPN should select Mina Kimes as the Super Bowl halftime commentator. We think that would be a mistake.
However, we would be surprised if his name is not mentioned inside.
Because some critics have accused ESPN of racism by moving away from Clark, executives may have felt pressured to make a symbolic move. Kimes will likely be part of that conversation.
Picking someone who has never played or coached in the NFL on ESPN’s first Super Bowl show will wipe out a lot of the goodwill the network has built up with football fans over the past few days.
Mina Kimes during the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse on Jan. 30, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Images)
Promote someone from ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’
Another option is to simply remove one of ESPN’s Sunday pre-Monday shows, be it Randy Moss, Alex Smith, Rex Ryan, or Tedy Bruschi.
Each would be an improvement over Clark, and by a large margin. Moss has been a huge star since his playing career. Bruschi is the strongest television commentator of the four.
A final thought
There is another possibility to consider.
The networks that host the Super Bowl often supplement their studio coverage with active players whose seasons are over during the postseason. Given how much emphasis ESPN is putting on its first Super Bowl, don’t be surprised if the network adds a current or recently retired major league player to the side of the existing team, even if it’s for one broadcast.
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Names like Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, or Joe Flacco come to mind.
Or, maybe to show them just once, ESPN may combine Jason Kelce with his brother, Travis Kelce, who is expected to retire at the end of the Chiefs season.
