Current:Home > FinanceESPN fires football analyst Robert Griffin III and host Samantha Ponder, per report-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
ESPN fires football analyst Robert Griffin III and host Samantha Ponder, per report
View Date:2024-12-23 15:34:41
ESPN has fired football analyst Robert Griffin III and host Samantha Ponder, according to a report from The Athletic.
Griffin, a former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor, was hired by the network in 2021 as a college football and NFL analyst.
Griffin joined "Monday Night Countdown" in the 2022 season and appeared on the network's various shows.
According to The Athletic, he had two years remaining on his contract, and the report stated that Griffin's seven-figure annual salary would be honored. This offseason, he was replaced on "Monday Night Countdown" by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
All the news on and off the field: Sign up for USA TODAY's Sports newsletter.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Griffin, 34, played eight seasons in the NFL with Washington, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. His first season ended up being his best as he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading Washington to a postseason berth. He had a 16-26 record as a starter, throwing for 9,271 yards and 43 touchdowns and rushing for 1,809 yards and 10 scores.
Griffin posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, in an apparent reference to the news report.
Later Thursday, Griffin posted a lengthy statement that essentially confirmed the news.
"Thankful for so many people in my time at ESPN that helped me grow because they are some of the best in the business," Griffin said. "From the broadcast booth to the studio and ESPECIALLY the people many of you never see behind the camera. They are the REAL MVPs and sacrifice so much time with their families just to ensure people like myself in front of the camera even have the opportunity to shine.
"There were so many awesome experiences and moments that my family and I will never forget from the last 3 years."
According to the same report, Ponder, who hosted "Sunday NFL Countdown," was also let go. Both Griffin and Ponder were casualties of yearly budgetary evaluations at Disney, ESPN's parent company, as it closes in on its fiscal year.
Ponder had been with ESPN since 2011. Before hosting "Sunday NFL Countdown," she was a reporter for "Saturday Night Football" on ABC and a contributor to "College GameDay." According to the report, possible replacements for Ponder on "Sunday NFL Countdown" include “NFL Live” host Laura Rutledge and “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg.
► The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (41)
Related
- Trump announces Tom Homan, former director of immigration enforcement, will serve as ‘border czar’
- Naomi Pomeroy, star of Top Chef Masters and award-winning chef, dies in river tubing accident in Oregon
- Nikki Haley endorses Trump in show of unity at RNC
- Shop Prime Day 2024 Beauty Deals From 60 Celebs: Kyle Richards, Sydney Sweeney, Kandi Burruss & More
- Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
- July 2024 full moon rises this weekend. But why is it called a 'buck moon'?
- 'Protect her at all costs': A'ja Wilson, Aces support Kate Martin after on-court injury
- Exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui convicted in billion-dollar fraud scheme
- Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
- Wind power operations off Nantucket Island are suspended after turbine blade parts washed ashore
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Becomes Auntie Tay In Sweet Photo With Fellow Chiefs WAG Chariah Gordon's Daughter
- Sofia Vergara, David Beckham and More Stars React to 2024 Emmy Nominations
- Who are the celebrities at the RNC? Meet Savannah Chrisley, Amber Rose and more stars
- Katey Sagal and Son Jackson White Mourn Death of His Dad Jack White
- World War II veteran reflects on life as he turns 100
- Travis Kelce attends Eras Tour concert in 'Swiftkirchen,' Swift asks staff to help fan
- Whoopi Goldberg Shares Cheeky Story Behind Her Stage Name
- New York City councilwoman arrested for allegedly biting officer during protest, police say
Recommendation
-
Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
-
Katey Sagal and Son Jackson White Mourn Death of His Dad Jack White
-
A woman who awoke from a coma to tell police her brother attacked her dies 2 years later
-
2 men sentenced in 2021 armed standoff on Massachusetts highway
-
Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud in Her First Onstage Appearance Amid Ben Affleck Divorce
-
How NBC's Mike Tirico prepares for Paris Olympics broadcasts and what his schedule is like
-
California passed a law to fix unsafe homeless shelters. Cities and counties are ignoring it
-
The Surprising Comments Christina Hall Made About Her Marriage to Josh Hall Just Days Before Breakup