ESPN has reportedly terminated the employment of football analyst Robert Griffin III and host Samantha Ponder, as per a report from The Athletic.
Griffin, a former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor, joined ESPN in 2021, serving as an analyst for both college football and the NFL. He was featured on “Monday Night Countdown” during the 2022 season and made appearances across various ESPN programs.
Despite having two years left on his contract, Griffin’s reported seven-figure annual salary will still be honored. His position on “Monday Night Countdown” has been taken over by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
At 34 years old, Griffin played eight seasons in the NFL with teams such as Washington, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted second overall in 2012. His most successful season was his debut year, during which he earned the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year title and led Washington to the playoffs. Over his career, he held a starter record of 16-26, accumulating 9,271 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, 1,809 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Following the news, Griffin shared a video on X, previously known as Twitter, hinting at the situation. Later, he confirmed the report with a statement expressing gratitude for his time at ESPN.
“I am thankful for so many people during my tenure at ESPN who helped me grow, as they are some of the best in the business,” Griffin wrote. He acknowledged the efforts of those behind the scenes and reflected on the memorable experiences of the past three years.
According to the same report, Ponder, who has hosted “Sunday NFL Countdown,” was also let go. Both Griffin and Ponder were impacted by annual budget assessments at Disney, ESPN’s parent company, as it approaches the end of its fiscal year.
Ponder, who has been with ESPN since 2011, previously reported for “Saturday Night Football” on ABC and contributed to “College GameDay.” Possible successors for her role on “Sunday NFL Countdown” may include Laura Rutledge, host of “NFL Live,” and Mike Greenberg, host of “Get Up.”