Super Bowl champion and longtime NFL analyst Damien Woody is leaving ESPN after 15 years with the network.
Woody, 48, confirmed that his ESPN contract will not be renewed. He will remain on the air through the end of the month, including Thursday, by his own choice.
The former offensive lineman enjoyed a successful 12-year NFL career with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions and New York Jets. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2002 and won two Super Bowl championships with the Patriots.
During his time at ESPN, Woody became a familiar face across the network, regularly appearing on “Get Up,” “First Take,” “Fantasy Football Now” and “SportsCenter.” He was also a frequent contributor to ESPN’s NFL coverage.
In a post on X, Woody reflected on his 15-year journey with the network.
“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. “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!”
Woody overcame a childhood stutter on his way to becoming a respected voice in sports broadcasting. His transition from the NFL playing field to television made his media career an especially meaningful accomplishment.
His departure comes amid a major shakeup at ESPN. The network has recently parted ways with several high-profile personalities, including Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech and Cam Newton, while other NFL analysts and hosts have also been affected.
Woody’s exit, however, was handled differently from some of the recent departures. ESPN informed him of the decision several weeks ago, and the two sides discussed the possibility of him remaining with the network, but ultimately could not reach an agreement.
Woody’s relationship with ESPN had previously survived an aggressive recruiting effort from FS1. Several years ago, FS1 pursued Woody for a potential morning-show role alongside New York radio personality Craig Carton. ESPN ultimately retained him and signed him to a new extension.
Woody credited several people for his longevity at ESPN, including former executives Norby Williamson and David Roberts, his current boss Seth Markman, as well as Mike Greenberg of “Get Up” and Stephen A. Smith of “First Take.”
Now preparing for his next chapter, Woody plans to continue his media career.
After 15 years of breaking down football and connecting with viewers, Damien Woody leaves ESPN with an impressive legacy — both as a two-time Super Bowl champion and as a broadcaster who turned a childhood challenge into one of his proudest professional accomplishments.
We’re wishing Damien Woody the very best as he looks forward to whatever comes next.
