ESPN Exec Who Pat McAfee Called Out Done With Network After Nearly 40 Years

Tim Capurso | Apr 5, 2024

26th Annual Sports Emmy Awards - Press Room / Marc Bryan-Brown/GettyImages

Norby Williamson, a longtime ESPN executive who spent nearly 40 years with the company—and was notably called out by personality and analyst Pat McAfee in January—is parting ways with the network, according to The New York Post.

Williamson and Magnus Burke, ESPN's president of content, reportedly could not see eye-to-eye regarding the company's long-term content strategy.

Williamson, who was slated to be under contract until early 2027, said the following in a memo to ESPN employees, "Almost 40 years ago in 1985, I was so very fortunate to be offered an opportunity at ESPN. Due to the exceptional hard work, creativity and commitment of the people at ESPN, and to a much lesser extent my contributions, I’d like to think we’ve left our great company in a far better place than we found it."

Williamson began his ESPN career in the mailroom back in 1985, then proceeded to work his way up to the post of Executive Editor and Head of Event and Studio Production, a title he most recently held.

While the longtime executive had made some headlines over the years, he mostly flew under the radar until he was called out by McAfee, who effectively accused Williamson of leaking bad ratings of The Pat McAfee Show, among other things.

The search for Williamson's successor will begin as soon as possible, Burke told ESPN employees in the memo.