“NFL Sunday Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and soccer analyst Robert Griffin III have been laid off by ESPN, in line with a supply aware of the state of affairs however not approved to talk publicly on it.
The choice was characterised as a enterprise transfer made because the community’s fiscal 12 months nears its shut. Ponder and Griffin will each obtain what they’re owed on the rest of their contracts. Griffin had two years remaining on his contract, whereas Ponder is believed to have been within the ultimate 12 months of her deal. Each have been reported to have had seven-figure yearly salaries.
There have been no different layoffs right now. Whereas a pair extra strikes could possibly be made earlier than the top of September, the supply stated, nothing near the scope of what occurred in June 2023 — when ESPN laid off roughly 20 high-profile commentators — is anticipated.
Ponder and Griffin had been knowledgeable of the choice Thursday. Whereas Ponder has but to publicly remark, Griffin acknowledged the transfer on X — first by posting a GIF from the film “Friday” that options the quote, “How the hell you gonna get fired in your break day?”
Later within the day, Griffin wrote a prolonged put up thanking his ESPN colleagues and viewers.
“Grateful for therefore many individuals in my time at ESPN that helped me develop as a result of they’re among the greatest within the enterprise,” he wrote. “From the published sales space to the studio and ESPECIALLY the folks lots of you by no means see behind the digicam. They’re the REAL MVPs and sacrifice a lot time with their households simply to make sure folks like myself in entrance of the digicam even have the chance to shine. …
“What folks typically fail to comprehend is none of that is doable with out you guys, the FANS. So THANK YOU to everybody who has supported my household by my enjoying days and broadcast profession up to now.”
Ponder began with ESPN in 2011 as a sideline reporter. She was additionally a contributor on “School Soccer Reside” and “School GameDay” earlier than turning into the host of “Sunday NFL Countdown” in 2017.
Griffin, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Baylor who spent eight years within the NFL, joined ESPN as a school and professional soccer analyst in 2021. Along with calling weekly school soccer video games, he was a part of the “Monday Night time Countdown” crew since 2022.
This offseason, ESPN added newly retired Philadelphia Eagles heart Jason Kelce to the “Monday Night time Countdown” group.
On Friday morning, one other put up by Griffin on X advised he could have already discovered his subsequent gig.
“When one door closes, one other one opens,” he wrote. “Belief God in your journey.”