The TE Ryan Clark compared to Travis Kelce just before he was fired by ESPN

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Ryan Clark’s departure from ESPN has sent shockwaves across the NFL media over recent hours.

The 46-year-old has been let go from ESPN as the network makes some drastic changes to their coverage ahead of the 2026 season getting underway.

Clark is one of the casualties from the cost-cutting exercise and he was informed of his ESPN exit during a commercial break on Monday.

Having been informed his position with ESPN was no longer, Clark did not see out the end of the show as he spoke on NFL Live.

Just before discovering his fate, Clark had been discussing one of the NFL’s up-and-coming tight ends, who he even compared to Travis Kelce.

Which NFL tight end Ryan Clark compared to Travis Kelce before ESPN firing

Kelce is returning for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs having already established himself as one of the greatest to play the game.

However, there is one 26-year-old tight end that Clark feels could already be showing signs of becoming the next Kelce.

“Isaiah Likely could be a huge reason why you can be patient,” Clark said on ESPN before being fired.

“When you think about the way he was paired with Mark Andrews in Baltimore, he was the guy that gave you the explosive play, the one who could stretch you down the seam. And now with Jaxson Dart, to give him an outlet that’s closer to the line of scrimmage, closer to the tackle box, I believe Matt Nagy understands how to utilize the tight end. He can have a young Travis Kelce effect for this offense.”

“I believe he is just waiting to be unleashed.”

Isaiah Likely followed John Harbaugh from the Baltimore Ravens to the New York Giants this offseason.

The 26-year-old has proven himself to be one of the most exciting tight ends in the league, with plenty still to offer.

Likely did, however, finish the 2025 season with a career low of just one touchdown having scored 11 touchdowns over the course of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Despite many people believing Kelce’s career is coming to an end, the veteran still managed to score five touchdowns last season.

Likely has shown he has potential to take his game to the next level, but it is apparent that there is still some way to go if he is to reach the standards set by Kelce.

Harbaugh has shown a lot of trust in the tight end by bringing him to MetLife Stadium this offseason, where he will be playing alongside Jaxon Dart, who is entering his sophomore year in the NFL.