Sam Ponder is speaking out after being shockingly fired by ESPN in August 2024.
The former host of 鈥淪unday NFL Countdown,鈥 who was let go as part of the network鈥檚 cost-cutting layoffs last summer, revealed Monday in a fan Q&A on Instagram that she鈥檚 still close with her former 鈥淐ollege GameDay鈥 colleagues, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and David Pollack.
鈥淒avid Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired,鈥 Ponder, 39, said when asked if she still talks to the 鈥淐ollege GameDay鈥 crew, adding a crying laughing emoji.
鈥淩ece Davis is my forever favorite. I鈥檒l never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people. I will be a 鈥榗ollege gameday鈥 fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It鈥檚 such a special show.鈥
Herbstreit reposted her message 鈥 which has since expired 鈥 on his own Instagram Story, according to Athlon Sports.
Ponder first joined ESPN in 2011, working mostly in the college football space. She contributed to and hosted 鈥淐ollege GameDay鈥 from 2012-16, and worked as an in-game sideline reporter in 2016.
She was promoted to 鈥淪unday NFL Countdown鈥 in 2017, joining a signature program that airs Sunday mornings prior to 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, with an analyst desk that features Randy Moss, Tedy Bruschi and Rex Ryan.
ESPN鈥檚 Mike Greenberg 鈥 who also hosts 鈥淣BA Countdown鈥 and the daily morning program 鈥淕et Up鈥 鈥 replaced Ponder as the host of 鈥淪unday NFL Countdown.鈥
Ponder, who has yet to announce her next gig, wasn鈥檛 the only notable ESPN football personality to be removed from the network鈥檚 lineup in advance of the 2024 college and pro campaigns.
Former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III was also let go with years left on his contract.
Griffin reportedly landed a job with Fox Sports in April.
Ponder, the wife of former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, made waves on social media last summer over controversial female boxer Imane Khelif, who won Olympic gold at the Paris Games.
鈥淓NOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman,鈥 Ponder wrote, quoting a post about Italian Angela Carini, who withdrew from her opening bout with Khelif.
Ponder also expressed support for President Donald Trump after his assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally last July.
Nonetheless, reports suggest that Ponder was removed not for her political beliefs, but instead for cost-cutting purposes as ESPN alters its programming.