Damien Woody Shares Classy Message After ESPN Departure

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: ESPN logo on a camera cover prior to the UFL football game between the St. Louis Battlehawks and the DC Defenders on April 28, 2024, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Damien Woody Shares Classy Message After ESPN Departure

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Aug 12, 2026 4:12 PM ET

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ESPN viewers got a bit of bad news today as longtime analyst Damien Woody was reportedly axed today amid ongoing cuts.

Woody was a part of ESPN for 15 years following his retirement from the NFL in 2011. He had been a Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion during his career.

Taking to X on Wednesday, Woody admitted that he's still processing his firing but thanked his ESPN colleagues. He said that he considers it a great source of pride that he was able to work on television despite dealing with a speech impediment throughout his life.

"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. 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 wrote.

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. 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! https://t.co/J7ZvuH9DRM
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) August 12, 2026

Farewell to Woody

Woody's colleagues offered him well wishes on X, and Woody thanked each of them for it.

"A good good dude," Dan Orlovsky wrote.

"You were a pleasure to work with there..." wrote Andrew Brandt.

"My teammate forever!" wrote Stephania Bell.

Fans were dumbfounded that ESPN would let him go and made their feelings known:

"Hard to understand how ESPN would release a classy, insightful and highly intelligent analyst such as Damien Woody. I understand ESPN needed to integrate NFL Network talent due to the acquisition and reductions in staff had to occur. Still very sadden by this news," one fan lamented.

"Horrible decision by them. You will prosper somewhere else," wrote another.

"You handled yourself with class and dignity every single day, without fail. You taught your audience whenever you spoke. TV needs more who talk sports and don’t make it personal. It was an honor to see how you went about your business. A real pro and pure class! Thank you!" a third wrote.

Woody should be able to land on his feet in no time, but that doesn't make today any less sad.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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