Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III has been fired by ESPN from his position as an NFL analyst, according to reports.
Griffin, 34, was fired on Thursday along with “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder. Both Griffin and Ponder, who each had salaries of seven figures, were released for financial reasons as ESPN nears the end of its fiscal year in September, according to The Athletic.
Griffin, who joined ESPN in 2021, issued a statement expressing gratitude for his time at the sports network. The former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback had two years remaining on his contract with ESPN, CNN reports.
“Thankful for so many people in my time at ESPN that helped me grow because they are some of the best in the business,” Griffin wrote in a post to X. “From the broadcast booth to the studio and ESPECIALLY the people many of you never see behind cameras. They are the real MVPs and sacrifice so much time with their families just to ensure people like myself in front of the camera even have the opportunity to shine.
“There were so many awesome experiences and moments that my family and I will never forget from the last 3 years,” he added.
Griffin, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, played seven seasons in the NFL from 2012 to 2020. He played his first three seasons for Washington, where he was named the NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and named to the Pro Bowl in his first season.