Linda Cohn alleges bullying and 80% pay cut at ESPN

Former SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn has detailed the circumstances surrounding her departure from ESPN after a 34-year career. During an appearance on “The Sage Steele Show,” Cohn claimed that the network ended its Los Angeles-based edition of SportsCenter in May 2025, which resulted in her being offered an 80% salary reduction.

Cohn also alleged that she was bullied by former ESPN president John Skipper. She specifically cited a 2017 phone call during which Skipper reportedly yelled at her, leading to a suspension following her comments about the network during a radio interview. Cohn described the experience as devastating and stated that she felt there was “no place” for her at the network toward the end of her tenure.