ESPN fires Griffin III, considers cost-cutting measures

August 15, 2024

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ESPN fires Griffin III, considers cost-cutting measures

ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, sources familiar with the moves said. The Athletics on thursday.

The decisions were made for financial reasons, as ESPN approaches the end of its fiscal year in late September, a source familiar with the matter said. Both Ponder and Griffin earned more than seven figures. Both were informed of ESPN’s decision Thursday morning, a source familiar with the matter said. Neither Griffin nor Ponder responded to a request for comment. The Athletics‘s requests for comment, but Griffin referred to the move in a post on X.

Ponder was entering the final season of a three-year contract worth more than $3 million, according to sources familiar with her contract. She worked exclusively in the prestigious role of “Sunday NFL Countdown” anchor and was essentially absent for the rest of the year. ESPN typically reserves such schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of the world.

“NFL Live” host Laura Rutledge and “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg are potential replacements for Ponder.

The buyouts of Ponder and Griffin are the only moves ESPN is making at this point, but it could opt to cut more salaries by the end of September. However, the cuts aren’t expected to come close to the bloodshed that saw some 20 big names fired last June, including stalwarts Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.

Samantha Ponder visits SiriusXM during Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Griffin, who was seen as a rising star at ESPN last year, had two years left on his contract. He was hired three years ago after Fox Sports and ESPN made interest. At the time, sources at both networks raved about what they described as one of the best auditions they had ever seen.

Last season, he was considered ESPN’s No. 2 college football game analyst along with Sean McDonough, but the job went to Greg McElroy.

ESPN declined to comment.

With Griffin’s stock having fallen, he was a prime candidate for dismissal. Although his seven-figure annual salary is honored, his role had shrunk to the point that ESPN decided not to keep him on any longer.

The first real sign that Griffin was being taken out of the lineup came when he was removed from “Monday Night Countdown,” where he had been the main pregame show host for two years. ESPN hired Jason Kelce this offseason to replace Griffin.

Last season, Griffin was also part of one of ESPN’s top college game broadcast teams, working with play-by-player Bob Wischusen.

Fox Sports has shown interest in Griffin over the years. When it was looking for 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 and weighs in on a variety of issues, including when ESPN has had controversies. Ponder doesn’t have the flood of social media posts that Griffin does, but has occasionally weighed in on 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 person on the radio show in the network’s history, stepped aside to make way for Ponder. She didn’t have much NFL experience, but had worked her way up the ESPN ranks by being a regular on the iconic pregame show, “College GameDay.”