ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, according to people familiar with the matter. Competitor Thursday.
The decisions were made for financial reasons as ESPN’s fiscal year comes to an end at the end of September, people familiar with the matter said. Ponder and Griffin both earn over seven figures. A source familiar with the decision said both parties were informed of ESPN’s decision Thursday morning. Neither Griffin nor Ponder responded. Competitorrequest for comment, but Griffin mentioned the move in a post on X.
“Thank you to the many people who helped me grow during my time at ESPN as they are among the best in the business. … Thank you to everyone who has supported my family throughout my playing and broadcasting career thus far,” he wrote.
Ponder is entering the final season of a three-year contract worth more than $3 million, according to sources with knowledge of his contract. She only took on the prestigious role of host of “Sunday NFL Countdown” and basically didn’t take a break for the rest of the year. ESPN typically reserves these types of schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans, and Peyton Mannings of the world.
“NFL Live” host Laura Rutledge and “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg are potential replacements for Ponder. Greenberg is considered the favorite, according to sources familiar with negotiations within the network.
Acquiring Ponder and Griffin is the only move ESPN has made so far, but it may choose to cut more salaries before the end of September. However, the cuts are not expected to be as drastic as last June’s elimination of about 20 marquee players, which included stalwarts like Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.
Samantha Ponder attends the SiriusXM Game at Super Bowl 57 in February 2023.
Griffin was viewed as a rising star at ESPN last year and has two years left on his contract. He was hired three years ago after attracting interest from Fox Sports and ESPN. At the time, sources at both networks praised it as one of the best auditions they had ever seen.
He was strongly considered ESPN’s No. 2 college football analyst last season along with Sean McDonough, but the job ultimately fell to Greg McElroy .
ESPN declined to comment.
With Griffin’s stock down, that makes him a prime candidate to be fired. While his seven-figure annual salary will be fulfilled, his role has diminished to the point where ESPN decided not to keep him.
The first real sign that Griffin was being eliminated was when he was removed from “Monday Night Countdown,” where he had been on the top pregame show for two years. ESPN hired Jason Kelce this offseason to replace Griffin.
Griffin also served on one of ESPN’s top college game broadcast teams last season, working with player Bob Wischusen.
Fox Sports has shown interest in Griffin for years. When it looked for Reggie Busch’s successor on the pregame show “Big Noon Kickoff,” Griffin was at the top of the list, but it chose another former Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram II.
Griffin is active on social media, expressing his views on a range of issues, including when controversies arise at ESPN. Pound doesn’t post as profusely on social media as Griffin, but has occasionally chimed in to discuss transgender athletes and other political issues.
In 2017, Bond had the honor of taking over from the legendary Chris Berman on Countdown.
Berman, perhaps the most famous announcer in the network’s history, stepped aside to make way for Pound. She didn’t have much NFL experience but worked her way up the ranks by becoming a mainstay on ESPN’s iconic pregame show “College GameDay.”
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