ESPN’s Top Football Executive Leaves the Network
Just when it seemed like ESPN was finally settling down and gearing up for football season, the Worldwide Leader in Sports has been struck by another big change.
So far this year, ESPN has seen its second-longest tenured employee be let go, network stalwarts such as Jalen Rose, Jeff Van Gundy, and Max Kellerman exit, and perhaps the biggest name in sports, Pat McAfee, move in.
Now, after the dust had seemingly settled and ESPN appeared to be looking ahead to the fall, another major change has struck the network.
Lee Fitting Leaves ESPN
According to OutKick, ESPN’s Senior Vice President Lee Fitting is no longer with the network.
Fitting was one of ESPN’s top football executives, overseeing programs such as Monday Night Football, College Football Playoff, and College GameDay. If a studio show involved football, Lee Fitting was involved.
Norby Williamson, ESPN’s Head of Event & Studio Production, reportedly informed employees of Fitting’s departure on Monday.
Williamson is expected to further speak with employees on August 29th. He will address Fitting’s departure and lay out the new company structure for football programming.
A Long Career
According to Fitting’s bio on ESPN (which has since been removed from the press site), the executive started with the sports network in 1996.
“Fitting’s history with College GameDay is extensive, having been named the producer in 2004 and then coordinating producer in 2008. During his College GameDay tenure, Fitting and his colleagues earned six Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly,” ESPN’s website read.
A six-time Sports Emmy Winner, Fitting was set to spearhead ESPN’s new Monday Night Countdown show. The program recently named Scott Van Pelt, Robert Griffin III, Marcus Spears, and Ryan Clark.
At this time, the reason for Fitting’s departure is unclear.
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