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ESPN fires two popular football analysts

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For over a year, ESPN has been cleaning house of some of the sports network’s most popular — and long-standing — personalities.

Yesterday, ESPN axed two more popular hosts in another big shakeup.

Per The Athletic, NFL analyst Robert Griffin III and “NFL Countdown” host Sam Ponder were let go by ESPN.

According to the report, the latest personnel moves are budget-related, with the network nearing the end of its fiscal year.

They are reportedly the only ESPN talent being released at this time, but more decisions could be made before the end of September.

Griffin, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Rookie of the Year, had two years left on his contract and joined ESPN in 2021 to work on its college football and NFL coverage. He had recently been replaced on “Monday Night Countdown” after the network hired the newly retired Jason Kelce.

Griffin did not make a statement on the firing, but did reference his departure on social media using a humerous clip from the movie “Friday” that talks about getting fired on a day off from work.

According to The Athletic report, Ponder was hired by ESPN in 2011, working as a reporter for college football and basketball broadcasts, as well as the Longhorn Network. She took over as host of “NFL Countdown” in 2017.

Ponder was among the tiny group of personalities who called for fairness in women’s sports amid the ongoing debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports. According to Fox News, she had a lot of vocal support from other media personalities.

About the Author

Cory Templeman is an experienced writer and researcher who has worked with some of the biggest names in the publishing business. Cory lives in South Carolina with his wife and three kids.