Irvin out at NFL Network, 'NFL Total Access' shuts down

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Michael Irvin is out at NFL Network, while one of the network's original signature shows — "NFL Total Access" — is done after more than two decades on the air, sources briefed on the moves told The Athletic on Friday.

This is part of the continuing layoffs and cutbacks at NFL Network, which have been ongoing for months.

Irvin, 58, has been on rocky ground with the network for a while. In 2023, he was sent home from the Super Bowl in Arizona after an alleged lewd incident at a Marriott Hotel. After being suspended until September of that year, he returned to the network at the beginning of the regular season. Irvin still appears regularly on FS1's "Undisputed."

NFL Network vice president of communications, Alex Riethmiller, confirmed the Irvin decision and referred The Athletic to the network's statement last month when The Athletic reported that Andrew Siciliano, Melissa Stark, James Palmer and Will Selva were let go.

"As is normal course of business this time of year, we are evaluating our talent roster for the upcoming 2024 season and beyond," Riethmiller said. "That process results in renewals, non-renewals and additions to our talent lineup depending on programming needs. To those departing talent, we give our sincere thanks and appreciation for their hard work and contributions to NFL Media."

The New York Post first reported the Irvin and "Total Access" decisions.

"NFL Total Access" has been on the air for more than two decades, beginning as the marquee show, hosted by Rich Eisen, in 2003. Its final program is expected to be on May 17. It will be replaced, at least in the interim by "Insiders," an afternoon program featuring reporters Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.

NFL Network is in the midst of remaking its programming, which includes shifting "Good Morning Football" from New York to Los Angeles. The show has taken a summer hiatus until late August and only Jamie Erdahl has committed to staying with the show as the three other hosts, Peter Schrager, Jason McCourty and Kyle Brandt, have yet to signal if they will go west.

The moves are part of a series of cuts made over the last months as it prunes the networks with layoffs and cost-saving methods.

The decisions are all taking place with the backdrop of continued negotiations with ESPN over a deal in which the Disney-owned network would take on the network and other NFL Media properties and, in exchange, the NFL would receive a minority stake in ESPN. Discussions have continued with ESPN, while the NBA is also a potential player for an equity stake, though those talks have been tabled until after the NBA completes its TV rights negotiations.

Required reading

• Ian Rapoport staying at NFL Network with new deal despite widespread changes, layoffs
• NFL Network continues paring down as Stark, Siciliano, Palmer, Selva out: Source

(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)