ESPN’s latest round of cuts has forced several familiar NFL voices to consider what comes next. Among them is former linebacker Bart Scott, who learned his contract would not be renewed moments before he was scheduled to host his radio show.
The unexpected timing prompted an NSFW response, but Scott’s message afterward carried a very different tone. Rather than dwell on the decision, he appears ready to use it as a push toward his next career move.
Bart Scott Opens Up About ESPN Exit and Blunt Reaction
Scott revealed the details during an appearance on “The Joint Venture Show” with Craig Carton and Lil Wayne. He said ESPN contacted him while he was heading into his radio show and told him the network would not renew his contract, which expires in September.
The former NFL linebacker did not exactly hide his frustration with the way the news reached him.
“I was going into my radio show, and they called me, like, ‘Hey, just to let you know, wish we could do it in person,’” Scott said. “Like, no, you don’t, (expletive). ‘Oh, I wish I could do it in person!’ Nah. So, it’s like, ‘We’re not gonna renew you.’ My contract is expiring in September. So, I found out that way.”
This moment came against the backdrop of a much larger ESPN restructuring. The network has cut several high-profile personalities as it integrates NFL Network assets, with Ryan Clark, Damien Woody, Cam Newton, Karl Ravech, and Tom Pelissero among those affected.
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Scott, though, said he does not plan to carry a grudge over his departure. He acknowledged that the business can force networks to make difficult decisions, even when those decisions come without much warning.
“It’s part of the business,” Scott said. “Sometimes, losing your job can be some of the biggest blessings because it forces you to try and do something else and, sometimes, step out of your comfort zone.”
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This perspective could matter because Scott may not be finished with football. His representatives have indicated that the 45-year-old wants to explore coaching after spending years in sports media.
Scott has expressed interest in becoming a linebacker coach with either the New York Jets or the Baltimore Ravens, the two teams he played for during his 11-year NFL career. His agent, Harold Lewis, has said Scott wants to pass his football knowledge to younger players and believes his experience could make him an effective teacher.
Scott also made clear that ESPN still played an important role in his career.
“I did enjoy my time there. I enjoyed using the platform, keeping myself relevant,” he said.
But his final message carried a competitive edge: “It’s my job to make them regret it.”
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.