Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had become a multi-sport contributor at ESPN, has been fired, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.com.

Griffin had two years left on his contract and will still receive “seven-figure-per-year salary” until the contract ends.  

He previously had been dropped from Monday NFL Countdown, when ESPN hired Jason Kelce. He was expected to continue as a game analyst for ESPN’s college football portfolio.  ESPN viewed Griffin as a rising star, but as Marchand notes his “stock had fallen.”

ESPN also fired long-time reporter and current NFL Sunday Countdown host Sam Ponder.  She had worked for the network in various roles since 2006 so the dismissal was likely a shock.  It’s currently unclear who will take over as the host of ESPN’s Sunday morning NFL pregame studio show. The first episode of the 2024 season is only 24 days away.

Marchand states that both moves were made for financial reasons as ESPN nears the conclusion of its fiscal year at the end of September.