ESPN has fired Sunday NFL Countdown host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, sources briefed on the changes said. The athlete on Thursday.

The decisions were made for financial reasons as ESPN nears the end of its fiscal year in late September, according to a source familiar with the matter. Both Ponder and Griffin earned more than seven figures. Both were informed of ESPN’s decision on Thursday morning, a source familiar with the decision said. Neither Griffin nor Pondin responded to The athleteasked for a comment.

Ponder was entering the final season of a three-year deal worth more than $3 million, sources briefed on her contract said. She was working only in the prestigious role of host of the “Sunday NFL Countdown” and was essentially off for the rest of the year. ESPN usually reserves those kinds of dates for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of its world.

Possible successors to Ponder include “NFL Live” host Laura Rutledge and “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg.

The severance packages for Ponder and Griffin are the only moves ESPN is making at this time, but the company could make more pay cuts by the end of September. However, the cuts are unlikely to be nearly as bad as last June, when around 20 big names were let go, including well-known figures such as Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.

Samantha Ponder visits SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. (Photo: Cindy Ord / Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Griffin, who was considered a rising star at ESPN last year, had two years left on his contract. He was hired three years ago after interest from Fox Sports and ESPN, where sources at both networks raved about what they called one of the best auditions they had ever seen.

Last season, he was considered ESPN’s second-best college football game analyst, along with Sean McDonough, but the job went to Greg McElroy.

ESPN declined to comment.

With Griffin’s stock price falling, he was a prime candidate for firing. His seven-figure annual salary will be maintained, but his role had shrunk so much that ESPN decided not to keep him.

The first real sign that Griffin was regressing was his removal from Monday Night Countdown, where he was featured on the premier pregame show for two years. ESPN hired Jason Kelce in the offseason to replace Griffin.

Last season, Griffin was also a member of one of ESPN’s top college game broadcast teams, working with live commentator Bob Wischusen.

Fox Sports has shown interest in Griffin over the years. When the network was looking for a replacement for Reggie Bush on its pregame show “Big Noon Kickoff,” Griffin was at the top of the list, but the choice fell on another former Heisman winner, Mark Ingram II.

Griffin is active on social media and speaks out on a variety of topics, although there have been controversies at ESPN. Ponder does not post as much on social media as Griffin, but has sometimes spoken out on transgender athletes and other politically charged topics.

In 2017, Ponder was given the honor of replacing the legendary Chris Berman on “Countdown.”

Berman, perhaps the most famous anchor in the network’s history, stepped down to make way for Ponder. She didn’t have much NFL experience, having worked her way up at ESPN by playing a major role on the legendary pregame show “College GameDay.”

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(Photo: Peter Joneleit / Getty Images)