Suzy Kolber says ESPN stayed silent
Suzy Kolber says ESPN gave her no public acknowledgment after her 2023 layoff, despite 27 years at the network. She described the lack of recognition as more painful than losing the job itself.
Kolber discussed the departure in a September 2026 interview with Richard Deitsch. She said she expected some recognition for her long tenure at ESPN, including her work on ESPN2 and Monday Night Countdown.
Suzy Kolber joined ESPN in 1993
Kolber joined ESPN in 1993 and became part of the launch team for ESPN2. She worked as a SportsCenter anchor and helped establish the new network during its first year on air.
Her first ESPN run lasted until 1996, when she left for Fox. Kolber spent three years there before returning to ESPN in 1999 for a much longer second chapter with the network.
Suzy Kolber returned after Fox stint
Kolber returned to ESPN in 1999 after three years at Fox. Her second run lasted until June 2023, when the network included her position in a broader round of personnel reductions.
During that period, she became a major presence on ESPN for the NFL. Her assignments included sideline reporting, studio hosting, NFL Insiders, Monday Night Countdown, Super Bowl coverage, and the annual NFL Draft.
Suzy Kolber sensed the layoff coming
Kolber said she sensed the 2023 layoff several weeks before ESPN made the decision. About three weeks earlier, she asked a manager whether her position was secure and received no clear assurance.
One week before the layoff, Kolber said she approached ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro directly. She recalled being told that her name appeared on a whiteboard connected with pending personnel decisions.
Suzy Kolber got the final call
Kolber said longtime ESPN executive Norby Williamson delivered the layoff news. She had known Williamson for years, which made the conversation more personal than receiving the decision from an unfamiliar company representative.
She also had one year remaining on her contract. Kolber recalled asking for time to get home and prepare herself before speaking with Williamson about the end of her ESPN tenure.
Suzy Kolber objected to contract warning
Kolber said one part of the layoff call upset her more than the termination itself. Williamson reminded her that disparaging ESPN could jeopardize the final year of her contract.
She responded by pointing to her long record of loyalty to the network. Kolber said she had avoided publicly criticizing ESPN despite difficult experiences with the company over nearly three decades.
Suzy Kolber received extra time to leave
ESPN gave Kolber the summer to clear out her office rather than requiring a quick departure. She said some network executives quietly helped secure that extra time after her position was eliminated.
Kolber described even basic tasks as difficult after leaving. She said she had never owned a personal laptop or maintained a non-ESPN email address throughout her adult professional life before the layoff.
Suzy Kolber accepted a 39% pay cut
Kolber said she had already accepted a 39% pay cut in the contract before her layoff. She believed the lower salary might help carry her through the remaining term of that agreement.
In exchange, Kolber said her workload was reduced to Monday nights, the NFL Draft, and the Super Bowl. The change gave her more time with her teenage daughter during the year.
Suzy Kolber disputes salary explanation
Kolber rejected the idea that salary alone explained her departure. She said the pay reduction had already lowered ESPN’s cost before the network included her in the 2023 round of layoffs.
Kolber said she willingly accepted less compensation for a reduced schedule and expected that arrangement to continue for the remainder of her contract. ESPN described its 2023 cuts as an efficiency measure.
Suzy Kolber led Monday Night Countdown
Kolber became the host of Monday Night Countdown in 2017 after years of NFL reporting and studio work. ESPN named her host of the pregame show that year, succeeding Chris Berman.
Her responsibilities included the Monday Night Football pregame show as well as halftime and postgame coverage. She had previously worked as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and other ESPN NFL programming.
Fun fact: A 2003 sideline interview with Suzy Kolber became such a turning point for Joe Namath that he later credited the moment with changing his life.
Suzy Kolber covered major NFL events
Kolber’s ESPN résumé extended well beyond Monday nights. She regularly worked the NFL Draft, Super Bowl week, NFL Insiders, SportsCenter, and other football programming during her long run at the network.
Her assignments included ESPN’s biggest NFL events for years, including draft coverage and Super Bowl programming. Those roles demonstrate the breadth of her football work before the network included her in the 2023 layoffs.
Suzy Kolber prepares Scripps return
Kolber is preparing to return to regular sports media work through Scripps Sports Network. The company announced an in-depth interview series hosted by Kolber for its free 24-hour streaming sports service.
The series The Originals is scheduled to premiere on September 15, 2026. Kolber serves as host and executive producer, with announced guests including Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters, Steve Young, Hilary Knight, and Diana Flores.
Stephen A. Smith says the WNBA left itself open to political attacks, noting that league decisions and public messaging can become part of broader political arguments beyond basketball.
Suzy Kolber begins new media chapter
Kolber’s new Scripps role follows a broadcasting career spanning nearly four decades across local television, ESPN and Fox. Her new project marks her return to regular sports media work three years after ESPN laid her off in 2023.
Scripps Sports Network launched on March 24, 2026, as a free, ad-supported streaming network featuring live sports and original programming. The Originals is scheduled to premiere on Sept. 15.
“People cross lines,” Stephen A. Smith defends Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wife, reflecting how criticism of athletes can extend beyond the court and involve family members who are not part of the competition.
Suzy Kolber says ESPN’s silence after 27 years hurt more than the layoff itself. Should longtime broadcasters receive a public farewell when networks move on? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
