NFL Network is dropping perhaps its best-known analyst, Michael Irvin, as cost-cutting at NFL Media continues to reshape the league-owned network.
NFL Network will not renew Irvin’s contract, Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post reported Friday, marking an end to his 15-year tenure. Perhaps the most prominent analyst on the league-owned channel, Irvin was a regular on the weekly “NFL Gameday Morning” pregame show.
Irvin’s departure is just the latest outcome of cost-cutting at NFL Media. Per the Post, NFL Network is also dropping the longtime studio show “NFL Total Access,” which debuted when the network did in 2003. Earlier this year, it announced that it will move its acclaimed morning show “Good Morning Football” from New York to its studios in Los Angeles.
The NFL has been trying for years to find a buyer for NFL Media and in recent months has been in discussions with ESPN about assuming control of the enterprise.
In addition to his NFL Network roles, Irvin appeared last season as a panelist on the low-rated FS1 show “Undisputed.” Irvin had previously been a regular on the more popular ESPN show “First Take,” but lost that role after being accused of wrongdoing by a hotel employee the week of the 2023 Super Bowl.
Irvin was also taken off of his NFL Network roles for months after the 2023 incident, but returned to “Gameday Morning” in Week 1 of last season.
