Two-time Super Bowl champion Damien Woody is the latest high-profile on-air personality to be let go by ESPN.
Woody, whose contract was not renewed, joins the list of recent layoffs which includes Ryan Clark, Cam Newton and Karl Ravech.
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Woody, 48, played 12 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions and New York Jets. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.
“Still processing it all but I want to thank all of my colleagues at ESPN who made it a joy to talk ball for 15 yrs,” Woody wrote in a post on X. “Being a guy who had a serious speech impediment to working on tv was truly one of my proudest accomplishments. Looking forward to what God has in store for me next!”
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 26, 2025: NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Isaiah Stanback interview Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 26, 2025: NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Isaiah Stanback interview Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 28, 2024: NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo delivers pregame analysis before a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 5, 2023: NFL Network broadcasters Kimmi Chex and Steve Smith Sr. pose during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
July 29, 2023: NFL Network host Chris Rose and analyst Brian Baldinger interview Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and coach Mike McCarthy during training camp at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, California.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 27, 2023: NFL Networks hosts Colleen Wolfe and Kimmi Chex on stage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station in Kansas City.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
March 2, 2023: NFL Network host Rhett Lewis, analyst Bucky Brooks and draft media analyst Lance Zierlein during the NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 28, 2022: Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with NFL Network reporter Melissa Stark after being selected as the 14th overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.
(Gary Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 30, 2022: NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales interviews Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson at Hanbury Manor ahead of the team’s International Series game in London.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 27, 2018: Steve Mariucci, Reggie Bush and Kurt Warner on the NFL Network set before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 22, 2018: Chris Rose, Steve Smith Sr., LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before a game between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Aug. 9, 2017: NFL Network commentator Steve Smith Jr. talks before a preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium.
(Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 30, 2017: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is interviewed by NFL Network sideline reporter Heather Cox during a game against Washington at AT&T Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 27, 2016: The cast of NFL Network’s “Thursday Night Football” studio show talk before the Tennessee Titans’ game against Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 26, 2015: Melissa Stark, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner smile during NFL Network broadcast at the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 20, 2014: NFL Network broadcasters Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
April 25, 2013: Leon Sandcastle of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Sandcastle was a character being played by Deion Sanders.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 23, 2013: Senior Bowl quarterback EJ Manuel of Florida State talks with NFL Network reporter Rebecca Haarlow a practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Jan. 6, 2013: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Stacy Dales after the Seahawks’ wild-card playoff win over Washington at FedEx Field.
(Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 14, 2013: Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans at LP Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 19, 2013: Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 20, 2012: NFL Network TV announcers before a “Thursday Night Football” game at Bank of America Stadium.
(Bob Donnan, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 6, 2012: NFL Network reporter Alex Flanagan interviews Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning after the game against the Oakland Raiders at the O.co Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 26-13.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 13, 2012: NFL Network broadcasters Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci and Marshall Faulk pose with Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Oct. 9, 2011: NFL Network reporter Sam Wyche interviews Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey after the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Texans, 25-20.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 24, 2011: NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales interviews Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 16-13 in overtime.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Sept. 19, 2010: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Kara Hendeson during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Feb. 4, 2010: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Jim Mora on the set for “NFL Total Access” taping at the Super Bowl XLIV media center at the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec. 28, 2009: NFL Network sideline reporter Michelle Beisner before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
(Kyle Terada, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Dec 4, 2008: Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, and Marshall Faulk of the NFL Network at a game between the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Nov. 29, 2007: Deion Sanders of NFL Network reports the action from the sidelines during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)
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ESPN acquires NFL Network. See the channel through the years
Aug. 5, 2007: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roetlisberger is interviewed by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network at the Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE)
Woody was a regular on a number of ESPN shows over the years, including “Get Up,” “Fantasy Football Now” and “First Take.” He also frequently appeared as an NFL analyst on “SportsCenter.”
According to The Athletic, ESPN executives informed Woody of the decision a few weeks ago. He will continue to appear on the air through the end of the month.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL analyst Damien Woody joins list of ESPN on-air talent cuts
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