ESPN Lays Off Ex-NFL QB Robert Griffin III and NFL Countdown Host Sam Ponder in Latest Round of Cuts

Scott Boehm/AP

ESPN has let go of retired NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III , as well as Sunday NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder , in yet another round of layoffs.

Sources told The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand that the cuts were made for financial reasons. Both were informed of the moves Thursday morning.

The two layoffs are not expected to be the beginning of another massive round of cuts. Last year, ESPN let go of more than 20 on-air personalities — including household names like Jeff Van Gundy , Steve Young , and Suzy Kolber .

Ponder, Marchand noted, was entering the final year of a three-year deal. Though she was the host of one of the network’s top NFL shows, it was her only role. She, like Griffin, was set to make seven figures this Griffin.

Ponder was notably one of a handful of ESPN personalities that voiced her opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports . That list also included Sage Steele — who now hosts a podcast as part of Bill Maher’s media network — and Charly Arnolt — who now works at Clay Travis’ OutKick .

Griffin spent last season as part of the Monday Night Countdown team. Initially viewed as a rising star, his stock within the company gradually dropped until it was finally announced that the recently retired Jason Kelce would be joining the Monday Night Football pre-game show. He will be taking Griffin’s place.

Griffin also made regular appearances on ESPN’s morning shows.

Based on his social media activity, Griffin seemed to take the news well. On Thursday afternoon, shortly after The Athletic reported his firing, the 34-year-old posted a clip from the movie Friday . In the clip, a character played by late actor John Witherspoon says, “How the hell you gonna get fired on your day off?”

—