Report: ESPN removes Paul Finebaum from network amid interest in Alabama senate race

ESPN has reportedly removed Paul Finebaum from network appearances amid his interest in the Alabama senate race, per OutKick’s Clay Travis. Finebaum opened up in a exclusive interview with Travis about potentially running for political office and leaving sports media.

“Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed (Paul Finebaum) from appearing on EPSN since his OutKick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama,” Travis wrote on Twitter/X. “ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus. Finebaum is not an announced candidate for Alabama senate yet. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has discussed running for president as a Democrat and the network has taken no action in this matter. OutKick has requested comment from ESPN (and) Disney and a story will be forthcoming on site.

“The decision to pull (Finebaum) from ESPN also follows the recent (Jimmy Kimmel) controversy on Disney owned ABC. Kimmel was returned to air after a four day suspension. The left wing rallied around Kimmel’s free speech rights in that case. Will they rally for Finebaum as well?”

ESPN’s Bill Hofheimer, who is the VP of ESPN’s Public Relations Department, denied the report. He said so on social media immediately after Travis’ tweet.

“This is not true at all,” he wrote. “The below is TOTALLY FALSE.”

Hofheimer later confirmed to On3 that Finebaum is scheduled to appear on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday. Finebaum typically appears on Tuesday’s show to recap the weekend in college football, usually alongside fellow ESPN college football analyst Heather Dinich.

Hofheimer’s tweet prompted another response from Travis. The OutKick founder stood by his reporting.

“LOL. This decision is above your pay grade, Bill. Why wasn’t Finebaum on Sunday AM SportsCenter yesterday,” Travis wrote. “Or First Take this morning? For the first time in over a decade? Reacting to one of the biggest college football weekends of the year? I stand by my sources.”

For context, Finebaum did not appear during his regular SportsCenter hit Sunday morning where he recaps the happenings in college football prior to an NFL slate. However, Finebaum was on ESPN’s College Football YouTube channel during his weekly appearance with SC anchor Matt Barrie on The Matt Barrie Show.

The origination of Finebaum considering politics stemmed from the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was murdered on the campus of Utah Valley at a speaking engagement last month.

“I spent four hours numb talking about things that didn’t matter to me. And it kept building throughout that weekend,” Finebaum said of doing his radio show immediately after Kirk’s death. “I felt very empty doing what I was doing that day … It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening.”

Finebaum eventually changed his perspective on the Senate seat once Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach, said he would run for Alabama governor. Not only that, recently retired Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said he would not run for a Senate seat, despite rumors linking him to the job.

“I was … hesitant at first because I was very aware of Bruce’s interest and [I’m a] huge fan of Bruce … I didn’t take it too seriously,” Finebaum said. “I ended up talking to someone … who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person … was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this.”

When Finebaum’s thoughts of the Senate were first reported, he said he’d likely have a decision on his media future within “30-45 days.” As of this current timeline, that could come at the end of October or sometime in mid-November.