Imagine waking up one day, going to work, only to find out that you are getting laid off. Brutal, right? That’s exactly what ESPN did to its reporters back in September. The NBA season was around the corner, and the channel laid off some of its best NBA writers following the network’s new fiscal year plan. And naturally, when your colleagues get laid off, it kind of shakes you up as well. So now, Laura Rutledge has dropped some news about her position.

Well, thankfully, it’s not another layoff. The vibe is different from what it was a few months back. ESPN, in its latest move, has re-signed a multi-year deal with Laura Rutledge. That’s right -guess it’s time for Laura to pop some champagne. The 36-year-old has been the heart and soul of ESPN’s NFL coverage. Now that she’s finally off the layoff radar, she has just two words to say. “Incredibly grateful (teary-eyed emoji),” wrote Laura as she shared the good news with her followers on her IG story. The channel’s official page originally posted the story. “ESPN re-signs the versatile host & reporter,” posted @espnpr as they congratulated their longtime NFL reporter.

Rutledge’s journey with ESPN started a decade ago after a brief stint with Fox Sports. “ESPN has provided me the support and freedom to build my dream career since I arrived eager to learn and grow,” shared the NFL Live host once. An alum of the University of Florida, Laura’s reporting journey began right after she won the ‘Miss Florida title’ in 2012. Although there is no official word on the length of Laura’s “multi-year” contract, she will remain the QB of ESPN’s NFL Live. Rutledge will also continue to cover college football and SEC Nation.

“Laura is a consummate professional and a wonderful teammate. Her versatility allows us to utilize her in multiple roles, across numerous sports, throughout the year. We are fortunate to have her,” said Burke Magnus. Burke is currently serving as the channel’s president of content. 

So, now that we’re talking about Laura and ESPN re-signing her, let’s take a trip down memory lane to when the network let go of some of its most valued writers.

ESPN’s Cost-Cutting Wave: A Look Back at Major Layoffs

Mass layoffs by companies are no longer a surprise. It’s the go-to solution whenever they need to cut costs. So, back in September, when ESPN rolled out its fiscal year plan, some writers got the axe. But, the most controversial layoff remains that of former Ravens QB Robert Griffin. It was controversial because the network hired former Eagles center Jason Kelce right after letting Griffin go. As Kelce replaced Griffin as the host of Monday Night Countdown, Griffin shared a cryptic post, a few days after, “There are people in your circle saying they want you to win, but doing everything they can to make you lose. Don’t be afraid to cut people off when they keep handing you the scissors.”

The channel also laid off Zach Lowe, who had been a cornerstone of NBA reporting for ESPN. This move left NBA fans quite confused. During that time, NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski also announced his departure from the channel after revealing that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Zach and Adrian’s exits left the channel with only a few NBA writers.

NFL sideline reporter Suzy Kolber was also among those laid off. She shared her thoughts on X after parting ways with ESPN: “Today I join the many hard-working colleagues who have been laid off. So grateful for a 38-year career! Longevity for a woman in this business is something I’m especially proud of. The next step is a project that gives back.” 

ESPN laid off around 20 employees during that period. The layoffs left a mark on ESPN, sparking debates about the network’s future. So, while they’ve brought in new faces after that, the impact of those departures hasn’t faded.