ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, sources briefed on the moves told The Athletic on Thursday.
The decisions were made for financial reasons as ESPN nears the conclusion of its fiscal year at the end of September, per a source briefed on the matter. Both Ponder and Griffin made more than seven figures. Each was informed of ESPN’s decision Thursday morning, a source briefed on the decision said. Neither Griffin nor Ponder responded to The Athletic’s requests for comment, but Griffin referenced the move in posts on X.
“Thankful for so many people in my time at ESPN that helped me grow because they are some of the best in the business. … THANK YOU to everyone who has supported my family through my playing days and broadcast career so far,” he wrote.
Ponder was entering the final season of a three-year deal worth more than $3 million, sources briefed on her contract said. She only worked in the prestigious role of “Sunday NFL Countdown” host and was basically off for the rest of the year. ESPN generally reserves these types of schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of its 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 briefed on the network’s internal talks.
The buyouts of Ponder and Griffin are the only moves ESPN is making at the moment, but it could choose to shed more salary by the end of September. However, the cuts are not expected to be anywhere near the bloodletting in which around 20 big names were let go last June, including stalwarts like Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.
Samantha Ponder attends SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. (Photo: Cindy Ord / Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Griffin, who as recently as last year had been viewed as a rising star at ESPN, had two years remaining on his deal. He was hired three years ago after gaining interest from Fox Sports and ESPN. At the time, sources at both networks raved about what they described as one of the best auditions they have ever seen.
He was considered strongly to be ESPN’s No. 2 college football game analyst with Sean McDonough last season, but the job went to Greg McElroy.
ESPN declined to comment.
Since Griffin’s stock had fallen, it made him a prime candidate to be let go. While his seven-figure per year salary will be honored, his role had diminished to a point where ESPN decided to not keep him on.
The first real sign Griffin was being dropped in the order was when he was removed from “Monday Night Countdown,” where he had been on the prime pregame show for two years. ESPN hired Jason Kelce this offseason to replace Griffin.
Last season, Griffin also served on one of ESPN’s top college game broadcast teams, working with play-by-player Bob Wischusen.
Over the years, Fox Sports has shown interest in Griffin. When it sought to find a successor to Reggie Bush on its “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show, Griffin was high on its list, but it went with another former Heisman winner, Mark Ingram II.
Griffin is active on social media, chiming in on an array of issues, including when ESPN has had controversies. Ponder does not have the flurry of social media posts like Griffin, but has chimed in at times about transgender athletes and other politically charged issues.
In 2017, Ponder was given the honor of replacing the legendary Chris Berman on “Countdown.”
Berman, perhaps the most prominent on-air person in the network’s history, stepped aside, making way for Ponder. She did not have much NFL experience, having worked her way up the ESPN ranks by being a mainstay on its iconic pregame show, “College GameDay.”
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(Photo: Peter Joneleit / Getty Images)