


Ryan Clark is returning to the Mothership.
After announcing earlier this month that he had failed to reach a new contract to stay at ESPN, Clark has given the network a verbal agreement that he will stay there, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand first reported.
Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy pegged the new contract as being worth over $2 million a year.
On Valentine’s Day, Clark had announced that he and ESPN were at an impasse.
“3 years ago I signed an extension with ESPN. I was so grateful for more time. I excited to prove I was worth more, felt I deserved more. We disagreed, & that’s ok. I set out on a mission to leave no doubt, end all conversations about my who I was in this business,” Clark tweeted, with an accompanying video that included a longer explanation.
“I knew it would take effort. I knew that effort didn’t promise results, but I dug in. Here we are now. The season is over. The deal is up. Time to make a decision. Either way it goes. The mission don’t change. I want to be the best doing it. Everyone should. I’m more motivated today than ever. I’m still the same #UndraftedFreeAgent!”
Clark, 44, has been an NFL analyst at ESPN since 2015.
He played defensive back for the Giants, Commanders and Steelers in an NFL career that spanned from 2002-14, after starring at LSU.
In his video earlier this month, Clark said that he had “felt played” during his last round of contract negotiations with ESPN.

“And honestly, the worst thing for anybody that’s from New Orleans is to feel played,” he said.
Clark also hosts the “Pivot” podcast with fellow ex-NFL players Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, and was on this past season of “Inside the NFL” on The CW.