ESPN has made a surprising move by firing former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had two years remaining on his contract. The decision, which comes just days before the start of the 2024 college football season, appears to be part of budget cuts at the network.Griffin, who joined ESPN three years ago after what sources described as ‘one of the best auditions they have ever seen’, had been a rising star at the network. He contributed to both NFL and college football coverage, including appearances on ‘Monday Night Countdown’ and as a color analyst for college football games.According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Griffin’s ‘stock had fallen’ recently, making him a candidate to be let go. Despite this, ESPN will honor the remainder of Griffin’s contract, which is reportedly worth seven figures per year.This move follows a series of high-profile departures from ESPN in recent years, including Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, and Suzy Kolber. It also comes shortly after former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce joined ESPN, effectively taking over Griffin’s role on ‘Monday Night Countdown’.As a player, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons in the NFL, finishing his career with 9,271 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions.While Griffin has yet to comment publicly on his departure from ESPN, many industry observers expect him to be picked up by another network soon, with Fox Sports mentioned as a potential destination.
Key points
- ESPN has fired Robert Griffin III, a prominent football analyst, with two years remaining on his contract.
- The decision appears to be part of budget cuts at ESPN, coming just before the start of the 2024 football season.
- Griffin joined ESPN three years ago after an impressive audition and had been contributing to both NFL and college football coverage.
- ESPN will honor the remainder of Griffin’s contract, reportedly worth seven figures per year.
Contradictions👾While some sources suggest Griffin’s ‘stock had fallen’, others note that he was still considered a rising star at the network, creating some ambiguity about the reasons for his departure.
