ESPN has parted ways with NFL legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Damien Woody as the network continues its recent round of staff reductions. Woody, who won two Vince Lombardi Trophies with the New England Patriots, had been with ESPN for 15 years following his retirement from professional football in 2011.
Woody was a familiar presence on several ESPN programs, including SportsCenter, NFL Live, and Get Up. His departure follows that of other former players like Ryan Clark and Cam Newton, who were also let go by the network. Woody is reportedly remaining with ESPN until the end of the current month.
"Being at ESPN for 15 years, it’s been an absolute joy," Woody stated in comments to The Athletic. He also posted on social media, thanking his colleagues and reflecting on his accomplishment of overcoming a speech impediment to work in television. "Looking forward to what God has in store for me next!"
Woody's NFL career concluded with the New York Jets. His former teammate, Bart Scott, also a former talk show host and NFL analyst at ESPN, has also departed the network upon his contract's expiration.
Reports suggest Woody was on a seven-figure salary. ESPN reportedly made significant efforts to retain him four years ago when Fox Sports 1 attempted to recruit him for a morning show, leading to an extension that kept him with the network. However, despite those efforts, a resolution for his continued employment could not be reached.
"At the end of the day, I just want to talk ball," Woody said.
The network's cost-cutting measures have drawn attention, particularly in light of its substantial deal with Pat McAfee, reportedly worth $30 million annually, from which McAfee funds his own staff. McAfee himself addressed the recent layoffs on his show, acknowledging the difficult narrative but expressing pride in his program's work and reaffirming his partnership with ESPN and Disney.
Stephen A. Smith, another prominent ESPN personality, publicly expressed his strong disapproval of the decision to let Ryan Clark go. While acknowledging the business realities of layoffs, Smith stated, "I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I'm not happy about this decision. I've made that very very clear."