ESPN FIRED-Jeff Van Gundy & Jalen Rose.

ESPN FIRED-Jeff Van Gundy & Jalen Rose. Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose are among the latest to be laid off at ESPN Network management was expected to inform approximately 20 on-air employees that they were being let go Friday. Network management was expected to inform approximately 20 on-air employees that they were being let go Friday, but it did not make the names public, instead leaving it to the talent and their agents to confirm their status. Among those who were informed that they were being let go Friday were NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose; NFL studio host Suzy Kolber and analysts Steve Young, Keyshawn Johnson, and Matt Hasselbeck; NFL draft expert Todd McShay; MLB writer and analyst Joon Lee; men’s college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis; “SportsCenter” anchor Ashley Brewer; host Max Kellerman; and ESPN Radio host Jason Fitz. The decision to cut ties with Van Gundy was perhaps the most stunning. The former Knicks and Rockets coach had been part of ESPN’s NBA broadcasts for 16 years, working with Mike Breen and Mark Jackson since the 2014 NBA Finals. Rose, a versatile commentator who has been part of several ESPN programs, including its “NBA Countdown” studio show since 2012, also was a surprising dismissal. ESPN, which employs approximately 5,000 people, has undergone previous layoffs in recent months, but this is the first one to touch on-air personalities. Layoffs at Disney-owned companies were initiated in late March as part of a plan to cut its workforce by 7,000 people.