Rumors Fly After ESPN Fires Sam Ponder

ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Sam Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III in cost-cutting moves on Thursday, sources told The Athletic. 

The decisions were reportedly made for budgetary reasons as ESPN nears the conclusion of its fiscal year at the end of September. Both Ponder and Griffin III made more than seven figures. 

Ponder has yet to publicly address the situation, but Griffin III referenced the situation in a recent post on X.

“Thankful for so many people in my time at ESPN that helped me grow because they are some of the best in the business. … THANK YOU to everyone who has supported my family through my playing days and broadcast career so far,” he then tweeted.

Ponder was apparently entering the final season of a three-year deal worth more than $3 million, sources briefed on her contract said, as reported by The Athletic. “She only worked in the prestigious role of ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ host and was basically off for the rest of the year. ESPN generally reserves these types of schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of its world.” 

Former SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele spoke out in support of Ponder and said “it’s all gonna come out” in a video she posted on X shortly after ESPN announced the news.

Other celebrities are speaking up on X and sharing their opinions, including the founder and owner of the sports and popular culture company Barstool Sports. Portnoy and Ponder have had a few years of beef between them and although they have previously engaged in a pretty ugly feud, Portnoy said that he holds ‘no grudge’ against her and that there’d be ‘no champagne bottle’ to celebrate her discharge. 

‘I said some things, she held onto them, she played her card – I have no grudge with that… good luck to her on her next step,’ the Barstool Sports founder said in a video on X.

There’s speculation that Ponder was fired because she spoke up for Women’s sports, but ESPN has solely reported the reasoning related to cost. Obviously. But, really? 

For example, Ponder made waves in May of 2023 when she retweeted former collegiate swimming champion Riley Gaines, who competed against a biological male, Lia Thomas, and has since become an outspoken advocate of banning men from women’s sports. 

It’s possible that Ponder received some backlash from ESPN executives for her posts and outspoken nature on the cause, regardless of her show “Sunday NFL Countdown” reportedly performing well in ratings.

But, we won’t know the real reason for her firing until Ponder speaks out herself.