ESPN 'fires rising star analyst Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder' in shock move just weeks before NFL season

ESPN has reportedly fired analyst Robert Griffin III and 'NFL Countdown' host Sam Ponder because of 'financial reasons'. 

According to The Athletic, both are believed to have earned over $1million-a-year.

Griffin still had two years left on his contract, which will reportedly still be honored by ESPN. He had been viewed as a rising star at the network.

Griffin, the offensive rookie of the year in 2012, played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career.

He joined ESPN in 2021 after they fought off interest from Fox Sports and ESPN, who were impressed by his audition and desperately wanted to sign him.

ESPN has reportedly fired Robert Griffin III, despite having two years left on his contract

The network has also axed 'NFL Countdown' host Sam Ponder because of 'financial reasons'

The former quarterback worked on ESPN's 'Monday Night Countdown' show but was replaced by Jason Kelce this offseason.

Travis Kelce's brother - the recently-retired Philadelphia Eagles star and podcast host - is seen as a marquee signing for the network.

Griffin also worked on ESPN's college football broadcasts alongside announcer Bob Wischusen.

Earlier this month, Griffin threw his support behind controversial Olympics boxer Imane Khelif after she was dragged into a gender row in Paris.

Khelif, who went on to win a gold medal, was disqualified from the 2023 world championships after failing unspecified gender eligibility tests administered by the now-banned International Boxing Association.

Former NFL player Robert Griffin III threw his support behind Algerian boxer Imane Khelif

Griffin, married to Grete Griffin, was replaced by Jason Kelce on ESPN's Monday NFL coverage

The 25-year-old, who is not a transgender woman and has never identified as such, allegedly has male 'XY chromosomes.' 

Amid outcry from the likes of former president Donald Trump about her presence at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Griffin pointed out that Khelif is a 'biological woman' who deserves 'protection.' 

'This is one of the most cruel and unfair situations I've ever seen happen at the Olympics,' the former quarterback said in a social media clip posted Friday.

'If you do any research you will know that five million women suffer with higher testosterone levels than most females,' he explained. 

'This young girl is not a man competing against women, she's a woman who's being unfairly judged.'