Charles Davis is expected to leave NFL Network, according to a report by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The move would remove another longtime voice from the network’s NFL Draft and Scouting Combine coverage during a broader period of changes tied to ESPN’s integration of NFL assets.
Davis will remain CBS’ top college football analyst for Big Ten afternoon games, where he is set to replace Gary Danielson alongside play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler this fall. His reported NFL Network exit does not affect that CBS role.
A Changing Draft Booth
The biggest impact could be felt during NFL Network’s draft coverage. Davis has been part of the network’s draft and Scouting Combine programming since 2007, making him a central figure in one of its most recognizable annual broadcasts.
| On-Air Figure | Role in NFL Network Draft Coverage | Reported Status |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Davis | Draft and Scouting Combine analyst since 2007 | Expected to be let go |
| Joel Klatt | Appeared on draft coverage since 2021 | Believed he had worked his final draft |
| Rich Eisen | Core draft broadcast team | Remaining member |
| Daniel Jeremiah | Core draft broadcast team | Remaining member |
Fox analyst Joel Klatt had also appeared with Davis, Rich Eisen, and Daniel Jeremiah on the NFL Network draft broadcast since 2021. In April, Klatt said on Up & Adams that he believed he had already worked his final draft for the network because his Fox contract would not allow a crossover into ESPN’s ownership structure.
That leaves Eisen and Jeremiah as the remaining members of the core draft team identified in the recent coverage. ESPN has said it intends to continue producing a separate NFL Network draft telecast alongside its ABC and Pat McAfee-led programming.
Part of Wider Personnel Cuts
Davis’ expected departure comes amid a series of layoffs affecting ESPN and NFL Network personnel. Ryan Clark was fired on a Monday night broadcast, while Karl Ravech was reportedly let go after 33 years at ESPN, one night after calling a Dodgers-Phillies game.
Awful Announcing also reported that David Lloyd, Stephania Bell, and Tom Pelissero were among the people affected. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro addressed the cuts in a company-wide memo, describing them as a result of integrating the NFL assets ESPN acquired earlier in the year, while noting that some roles outside that acquisition were also affected.
Davis’ Career Across Major Networks
Davis began his television career as a college football analyst for Fox Sports South in 1997, a job he once described as a “fluke.” He moved to TBS in 2002 and joined Fox Sports full-time in 2007.
At Fox, Davis became the network’s lead college football analyst and worked three consecutive BCS National Championship games. He transitioned to NFL coverage full-time in 2015, joining Kevin Burkhardt and Pam Oliver on Fox’s No. 2 broadcast team.
In 2020, Davis moved to CBS to work with Ian Eagle. His continued place on CBS’ Big Ten package means his college football television role remains intact even as NFL Network’s draft coverage faces a significant reshaping.
