The previous reports have come to fruition as the “Keyshawn, JWill & Max” morning show at ESPN Radio has come to an end with both Keyshawn Johnson and Max Kellerman being let go as part of the network’s cuts today.
The former NFL wide receiver Johnson previously co-hosted mornings at ESPN owned 710 KSPN Los Angeles from 2016 until moving to the national show in August 2020 while also serving as a commentator on multiple ESPN television programs. Kellerman had previously hosted at 1050 WEPN New York and KSPN along with hosting shows and serving as a boxing analyst for ESPN, Fox Sports Net, and HBO before succeeding Zubin Mehenti alongside Johnson and Jay Williams in August 2021.
ESPN Radio has not yet announced its plans for the morning show yet.
12-3pm co-host Jason Fitz has also exited. Formerly a member of Country band The Band Perry, Fitz joined ESPN in 2016 and then joined the radio network after a year and a half co-hosting mornings at “102.5 The Game” WPRT Nashville. He moved from nights to the 12-3pm slot alongside Harry Douglas at the start of this year.
Among the other personalities leaving ESPN today are Monday Night Countdown host Suzy Kolber, NFL analysts Steve Young, Matt Hasselbeck and Todd McShay, lead NBA game analyst Jeff Van Gundy and NBA Countdown host Jalen Rose. Rose previously co-hosted 7-9pm on ESPN Radio with David Jacoby from 2015-18.
Sports Business Journal notes that ESPN will pay out the remainder of their contracts, but have told the affected talents that they will not appear on ESPN after today
ESPN released the following statement regarding today’s cuts, “Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead. This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.”
Original Report 6/21: As part of the ongoing cuts across the Walt Disney Company, the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reports that ESPN Radio will cancel the “Keyshawn, JWill & Max” morning show hosted by Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman.
The current iteration of the morning show debuted as “Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin” in August 2020 when Zubin Mehenti was paired with Johnson and Williams to replace Trey Wingo and Mike Golic. Kellerman would replace Mehenti the following August moving from hosting a 12-2pm show on ESPN Radio and co-hosting “First Take” on ESPN television. Kellerman has previously hosted at WEPN New York and KSPN Los Angeles along with hosting shows and serving as a boxing analyst for ESPN, Fox Sports Net, and HBO. The former NFL wide receiver Johnson previously co-hosted mornings at ESPN owned KSPN from 2016 until moving to the national show. Former Duke and Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams served as an NBA analyst for ESPN.
The Post reports that move will come as part of “significant on-air layoffs as early as next week” although it is not known if any of the talent’s will be exiting the company. Marchand notes that Kellerman’s television show currently airs in the timeslot that will occupied by Pat McAfee’s show this fall.
We can add that there may be more television simulcasts in ESPN Radio’s future with others using the The Pat McAfee Show model of multi-platform distribution.
