ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will be without host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, who were reportedly fired for financial reasons. Both Ponder and Griffin were earning more than seven figures, according to reports. Even though their contracts will still be honored, they will no longer appear on the show. Ponder, who was in the final year of a three-year deal worth an estimated $3 million, joined ESPN in 2017 to replace Chris Berman on Countdown. Meanwhile, Griffin had two years left on his contract but has seen a diminishing role at ESPN, eventually being replaced by Jason Kelce.
Neither Ponder nor Griffin has publicly commented on their exits, but Griffin appeared to reference ESPN’s decision in a post on social media. He shared a clip from the 1995 movie Friday in which a character asks, “How the hell did you get fired on your day off?” Fans have shown support for Griffin, with many commenting on his post encouraging him to move on to bigger and better things. In 2021, ESPN and Fox engaged in a bidding war for Griffin after he retired from the Baltimore Ravens, with reports indicating that both networks were impressed with his auditions, though Griffin ultimately chose ESPN.
Ponder and Griffin’s departures from Sunday NFL Countdown come at a time when both were established figures on the show. Ponder, who had replaced Berman as host, had been with ESPN since 2017 and was in the final year of her contract. On the other hand, Griffin had been hired in 2021 and was being considered for a prominent role as a game analyst before ultimately being replaced by Kelce. Despite their exits, there has been no official statement from either ESPN or the two individuals regarding the reasons behind the decision to let them go.
The financial reasons cited for Ponder and Griffin’s firings suggest that ESPN may be tightening its budget, leading to the departure of two high-profile personalities. As a result, Ponder and Griffin, who were reportedly earning significant salaries, fell victim to the network’s cost-cutting measures. While ESPN will fulfill their contractual obligations to Ponder and Griffin, their absence from the show is significant, as both had become familiar faces and voices on Sunday NFL Countdown.
Griffin’s decision to join ESPN over Fox in 2021 after his retirement from the NFL was a highly anticipated move, with both networks vying for his services. However, Griffin’s role at ESPN grew increasingly uncertain, leading to his eventual replacement by Kelce. Despite the bidding war and the high expectations surrounding Griffin’s hiring, his tenure at ESPN proved to be short-lived, as financial considerations led to his departure from the network. It remains to be seen what the future holds for both Ponder and Griffin following their unexpected exits from Sunday NFL Countdown.
