ESPN Dumps Another Longtime Fan-Favorite Football Analyst In Shocking Move As Cuts Continue

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Damien Woody’s long run at ESPN is officially coming to an end.

According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, ESPN is parting ways with the former NFL offensive lineman as part of an ongoing overhaul of its football lineup ahead of the 2026 season. Woody joined the network back in August 2011, spending nearly 15 years as one of its most recognizable NFL analysts.

Over the years, Woody was a constant face on shows like SportsCenter and Get Up, winning over fans with his blunt, straight-to-the-point takes on the league’s biggest stories.

Woody confirmed his departure in comments to Marchand.

“Being at ESPN for 15 years, it’s been an absolute joy,” Woody said.

His departure is just the latest big shakeup for ESPN’s NFL team. Over the past few weeks, the network has also moved on from fellow analysts Ryan Clark and former NFL MVP Cam Newton.

ESPN Continues Major NFL Coverage Changes

Woody’s departure comes as ESPN continues to adjust its on-air lineup before the new NFL season.

Clark’s exit drew significant attention last month. Marchand reported that ESPN informed Clark about the decision during a show appearance because company officials worried news of the move could leak before they spoke with him directly. Moreover, Clark had spent 11 years at ESPN and appeared regularly on “Get Up” and “NFL Live.”

https://t.co/lCtZB9IwUf pic.twitter.com/lOwzgeKq54

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 12, 2026

While ESPN says goodbye to several familiar faces, the network appears ready to bring in new voices.

OutKick’s Bobby Burack reported that ESPN is building a new show around NFL analyst Peter Schrager. Meanwhile, Front Office Sports reporter Ryan Glasspiegel reported that former NFL star Steve Smith Sr. will likely take on a recurring role across ESPN’s studio programming this fall.

Glasspiegel said, “While the plan for exactly when and where Smith will appear is still fluid, it could include shows like Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, and the expected-to-be-announced Peter Schrager show that will air at 2 p.m. ET after The Pat McAfee Show.”

These changes mark a new direction for ESPN’s NFL coverage, and fans will soon see a whole new lineup on their favorite football shows. Whether these moves will actually boost TV ratings is still unknown, but ESPN is clearly cleaning house before the season.