ESPN’s Layoffs Hit Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz

ESPN’s Miami-based “Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” is dealing with a loss in the show’s family after being informed Chris Cote is among the network’s massive layoffs announced in a company-wide internal memo last Thursday.

The Miami Herald reports Cote, 33, revealed the news Sunday evening on Twitter. He had been one of the show’s producers with a frequent on-air presence as a member of the “Shipping Container.” He had been a part of the show since 2012 and full-time with ESPN the past five years.

I’m saddened to announce that I was part of the ESPN layoffs that took place last week. I’m forever grateful for the genuinely good people I got to know and work with over the last 5 years...

— Chris Cote (@ChrisCoteESPN) November 8, 2020

Chris Cote

He is expected to discuss the situation further on his father’s Miami Herald podcast, The Greg Cote Show, which was recorded Sunday night and is out at 8 a.m. Monday. (Greg Cote appears on the Le Batard Show each Tuesday).

The layoff has not yet been mentioned on the air, because the 10 a.m. to noon weekday show was off on Friday, and there will be no show Monday due to Hurricane Eta threatening South Florida.

ESPN, related to the pandemic, is reducing its workforce by roughly 10 percent by laying off about 300 employees and not filling about 200 other open positions. The cuts are mostly in off-air positions.

While he explores future opportunities, Chris Cote will continue to produce and have a major presence.

The layoff is the third blow to the Le Batard Show in recent months. The national show was cut from three hours to two. More recently the televised version of the show was moved from cable TV to subscription ESPN+.