ESPN’s Jay Williams Issues Heartfelt Messages to Former Co-Hosts After Layoffs

Jay Williams returned to the airwaves on Thursday for his first ESPN radio show since the network laid off close to 20 high-profile on-air personalities nearly a week ago as part of the company’s large-scale restructuring to cut costs.

But in doing so, Williams could not help but reflect on the departures of his former colleagues—ESPN’s longtime on-air personality Max Kellerman and former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson—who were part of the daily Keyshawn, JWill and Max morning radio show. Williams sent best wishes to Kellerman and Johnson while also reflecting on his time with the duo.

“Those two [Keyshawn and Max] have been my boys, and they still are my boys,” Williams said. “… We’ve all gone through things where friends have lost jobs. It stinks. It sucks. We give a lot of sports analogies here, Freddie, and it’s like sometimes the only way I know how to handle things is to play through. Things happen; we’re going to deal with it.”

Williams and Johnson were the initial hosts of the show when it began in 2020. However, with Johnson gone, Williams took a moment to appreciate the man who was “unapologetically himself all the time.”

Williams credited Kellerman for serving as a walking thesaurus and helping him to grow throughout the process.

“My vocabulary is off the charts because of Uncle Max,” Williams said. “Max has taught me so many different words.”

For now, Williams remains with the company, despite the network’s recent layoffs. However, he is nearing the end of his contract. 

Even more, in early June, the NBA analyst said it was becoming hard for him to be his most authentic self at the network. The former No. 2 pick in the 2002 NBA draft joined the network after retiring from the NBA in ’06.