"Sunday NFL Countdown" host Samantha Ponder has been fired, according to The Athletic. Ponder, who was reportedly under a three-year, $3 million-plus contract, was reportedly let go "for financial reasons, as ESPN approaches the end of its fiscal year at the end of September." " Sports publication owned by The New York Times. Reported

Just this January, ESPN issued a glowing press release about how "Sunday NFL Countdown" was thriving. The show "earned its most-watched regular season since 2019 and its second-best since 2016… viewership was up a significant 8% from the 2022 season and was up 15% from the 2021 season." ,” the sports network boasted, also noting that “Sunday NFL Countdown” has grown its audience among women and young adults.

Ponder made waves in May 2023 when he retweeted former collegiate swimming champion Riley Gaines, who competed against Leah Thomas, a biological male, and has since called for banning men from women's sports. Has become an open lawyer.

USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armor warned, "Don't be fooled by people who use the slogan 'fairness' to cover up their prejudice against transgender people and women. It's all about hate, fear and ignorance." is about, and always has been."