Karl Ravech, who grew up in Needham and graduated from Needham High School, said his three-decade career at ESPN gave him a life beyond anything he imagined as a local kid.

Then the network let him go.

Ravech, 61, was among roughly a dozen on-air personalities laid off from ESPN in July as the network restructured following its $3 billion purchase of NFL Network earlier this year. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro cited redundancies created by the acquisition, which was finalized in January 2026 and included the RedZone channel and NFL Fantasy Football.

Speaking on "Westwood One Sports Night" on Friday, Aug. 14, Ravech struck a gracious tone. "I certainly have literally no ill will to a company that's provided me with a life that has exceeded any expectation I had coming out of Needham High School or Ithaca College and the experiences I've had," he said, according to the New York Post.

Ravech joined ESPN in 1993 and became the network's lead MLB play-by-play voice, anchoring "Baseball Tonight" and calling "Sunday Night Baseball" for years. Despite the layoff, ESPN gave him the option to call select games through the summer, including the Little League World Series in August.

He told the radio audience the most surreal part has been the flood of notes from fans expressing gratitude and frustration on his behalf. When you spend years behind a microphone, he said, you never think about the impact you have on people.

ESPN also declined to renew former NFL linebacker Bart Scott's contract, which expires in September. Scott learned of the decision via a phone call moments before going on air for his ESPN New York radio show, he said on "The Joint Venture Show," as reported by the New York Post. Scott, who joined ESPN in 2017, said he holds no ill will and wants to pursue NFL coaching next, eyeing a linebacker coach role with the Jets or Ravens.

Ravech is the second Needham High School graduate to make headlines for a major broadcast departure this month. Kimberly Bookman voluntarily left WHDH (Channel 7) on Aug. 4 after 12 years at the station.

Ravech is scheduled to call the Little League World Series later this month before his ESPN tenure officially ends.