Trey Wingo Responds to Emmanuel Acho’s Claims About NFL Live
Former ESPN host Trey Wingo wants to clarify his role in the development of the show “NFL Live.” Recently, Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker and ESPN analyst, stated that Ryan Clark, along with others, was instrumental in turning “NFL Live” into the popular program it is today. In a tweet, Acho asserted, “Ryan Clark built NFL Live (along with Rutledge, Mina and Spears) to the behemoth it is today, and he didn’t.” It seems he was suggesting that Wingo played a lesser role in the show’s success.
Wingo, who hosted “NFL Live” for 15 years from 2003 to 2018, took issue with Acho’s comments. He shared graphics showing viewership ratings from various years, arguing that they indicated otherwise. According to the data reported by ESPN, “NFL Live” had an average of 688,000 viewers early in the 2013 season, with numbers dropping to approximately 440,000 in 2025.
In a response on X, Wingo quoted, “‘Let’s say the apology as loudly as the contempt,'” touching upon the dynamic of public apologies versus criticism. This comment seems to reference a prior incident where Acho had insulted former NFL player Deebo Samuel and later apologized.
Acho’s remarks originated from a discussion initiated by Dan Zaksheske from OutKick. Zaksheske pointed out that “NFL Live” had first aired in 1998 when Clark was still a teenager, making it seem unlikely that he contributed significantly to the show’s early success. Acho agreed with Zaksheske’s observations, adding that when Clark joined, “And back then, no one was watching NFL Live,” implying that the show’s audience found its growth after Clark’s involvement.
While Wingo had a long career at ESPN, concluding with his dismissal in November 2020, Clark joined the network in 2015 and worked for over 11 years, with about five of those overlapping with Wingo’s tenure. As Clark’s time with ESPN progressed, he became a more controversial figure.
Fox News Digital reached out for a comment from Acho, but he has not yet responded.
