Mike Greenberg will be the new host of “Sunday NFL Countdown” as ESPN prepares the lineup for its first-ever Super Bowl in 2027, according to a source familiar with the matter. Athletic on tuesday.
Greenberg replaces Sam Ponder, who was fired last week. He has one year left on his contract, worth more than $1 million. He will be paid his full salary, but ESPN is moving to clean up its books as its fiscal year ends in September.
But Ponder's decision is also a way to promote Greenberg, a longtime favorite of ESPN executives. Greenberg is already a fixture at the network as the daily host of “Get Up” on TV and “Greenie” on radio. Greenberg briefly served as the main NBA host before handing the role off to Malika Andrews last season. He also hosts the NFL Draft for ESPN, a job considered a prestigious one.
Greenberg, 57, won the role over the network's rising star, Laura Rutledge. Despite her growing popularity, this is the second time in the past year that Rutledge, the host of the daily “NFL Live” show, has lost out to a longtime ESPN anchor.
Just before last season, Scott Van Pelt was named host of Monday Night Football's “NFL Countdown,” replacing Rutledge. Van Pelt's Monday show was also revamped, with Jason Kelce taking over as host from the recently fired Robert Griffin III. Kelce will join commentators Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark on Mondays.
Greenberg's main set on Sunday will feature Randy Moss, Tedy Bruschi, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and insider Adam Schefter.
ESPN and ABC are set to host the Super Bowl for the first time in 2027, with network executives designing a weekly set of broadcasts for what will be the biggest moment in the company's history.
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