In the hours after the news aboutęŚ his ESPN layoff broke, David Pollack .
He thanked the viewers who watched him and the “College GameDay” program while also acknowledging ESPN for the opportunity at the cable network.
Then, later at night, the show’s host, Rece Davis, weighed in about Pollackâs exit, quote-tweeting the video and .
âClass personified,â Davis wrote. âIâve joked for years that @davidpollack47 is the little brother I neverđŞ wanted. Truth is, heâs as good a man & as good a friend as I couldâve ever hoped for.
âHeâs a brother to me for life. Heâs a man of God.đ˝ Heâs a selfless teammate, an exemplary family mađn,â with Davis also that it was a âtough day.â
Pollack was one of around 20 on-air staff members who were impacted by ESPNâs latest round of layoffs, and the list also included Suzy Kolber, Jeff Van Gundy, Todd McShay, Steve Young, LaPhonso Ellis and Ashley Brewer â in addition to neꌏarly a dozen others.
Reactions from colleagues and other media personalities were posted on social media, while those who were laid off added reactionđźs of their own to thank ESPN fđor the opportunity.
Everything to know about ESPN Layoffs
On Friday, ESPN began the latest round of its layoffs, wđith several big names among the 20 or so on-air peđŚrsonalities being let go.
Network stalwarts Jeff Van Gundy, Max Kellerman, Keyđłshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Matt Hasselbeck, Steve Young and Todd McShay were some of the biggest names let go of by ESPN.
- ESPN laying off around 20 on-air stars
- Basketball world shocked bây ESPN ditching Jeđ¨ff Van Gundy
- Suzy Kolber let go after 27 years at ESPN
It marked the third round of layoffs by the “Worldwide Leader,” with the previous two focusing on behind-the-scenes workers.
The massive layoffs come as part of manâ¤dates from parent company Disney, which announced earlier this year that around 7,000 jobs would be eliminated.
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âWhat is up everybody,â Pollack said in his Twitter video. âI think a lot of the news câŚame out today, and a lot of you all heard that I wonât be brought back to College GameDay next year or to ESPN.
âJust wanted to say thank you to so many people. I just appreciate everybody along the journey â twelve, 13 years agođą, Eę§SPN taking a chance on me, and all the people that I get to work with. I got to work with so many great people and do so many things that was so awesome for so many years.
“Iâm just very, very thankful for it.â
Pollack joined ESPN in 2009, , and two years later, he started contributing to “College GameDay,” as well as other college football and “SportsCenter” coverage.
He played football at the University of Georgia and was selected by the Bengals in đthe NFL Draft as đ¸a first-round pick.
He suffered a neck injury inęŚ September 2006 â his second professional season â and he eventually retired in 2008 without playing anotđher game.
Pollack transitioned into broadcasting, and he eventually became a key part of the “College GameDay” broadcasts, even that North Dakota State, James Madison University and Appalachian State were a few of his favorite locations.
Pollack said that he doesnât know his next destination, but âI know itâs gonna be amazing.”
âI have no clue whatâs next in my life,â Pollack said. âBut one thing Godâs shown me all along theęŚ way, man, is he is for me. Heâs not against me. NFL, broke my neck, career is over, I find TV. Found coaching the last couple of years. Found speaking the last couple of years. I know Godâs got something amazing for me.
âI donât know what itâs gonna be, but thank you to all my teammates and all the people that played a part in it, and all you ྲthat watched and cheered me oáŠáŠáŠáŠáŠáŠâ¤â¤â¤â¤áŠâ¤â¤â¤â¤áŠâ¤â¤â¤â¤áŠđąáŠáŠáŠn.â
Davis, in the reply beneath his Twitter message to Pollack, said he knows his former “College GameDay” colleague will âcrush itâ at that next opportunity, too.
