Longtime Monday Night Countdown host Suzy Kolber was let go in the most recent round of ESPN layoffs. The network is looking for a new host for the show. Richard Deitsch sent the sports media world into a tizzy on Wednesday when he reported that the network had tapped Scott Van Pelt for the job. However, it appears The Athletic reporter jumped the gun.
“Scott Van Pelt will be getting the Monday Night Football Countdown job, via multiple sources,” he initially tweeted. “As @AndrewMarchand reported: It was he and Laura Rutledge who were up for it but I’m told that decision has been made and all parties know. It’s Van Pelt.”
Deitsch’s wording did make the news sound definitive, but he was back on Twitter nearly two hours later to clarify.
“UPDATE: I want to be clearer on this tweet for accuracy. ESPN management wants Scott Van Pelt for this job. He is their choice right now from everything I understand. But he would still have to of course accept the job and there are things to work out there. So to declare it is done today is premature. Is it heading that way? Yes, based on sourcing. I’ll try to be clearer on future tweets on this topic for sure.”
Along with Kolber, Steve Young was also part of the ESPN layoffs last month. Booger McFarland, Robert Griffin III, and Adam Schefter remain on Monday Night Countdown.
