Samantha Ponder

Samantha Ponder
Ponder reporting for Fox College Sports at Jack Trice Stadium in October 2010
Born
Samantha Sainte-Claire Steele

(1985-12-11) December 11, 1985 (age 38)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Alma materThe King’s College
Liberty University
OccupationESPN Sunday NFL Countdown host
Years active2006–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2012)​
Children3

Samantha Ponder (née Steele;[1] born December 11, 1985) is an American sportscaster who is the host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN.[2] Prior to hosting Sunday NFL Countdown, Ponder worked as a reporter/host for ESPN college football and as a basketball sideline reporter.[3] Ponder replaced Erin Andrews on College GameDay Saturdays at 10 AM ET on ESPN, as well as co-host of the Saturday 9 AM ET edition on ESPNU.[4] In addition to her duties on College Gameday, Ponder had been the regular sideline reporter for ESPN's Thursday Night College Football with Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, and David Pollack from August 2012 until 2014.[5] Ponder also appeared on the ESPN-owned Texas-oriented regional network Longhorn Network.

  1. ^ "Ponder marries ESPN sideline reporter in Hudson". KARE. December 19, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  2. ^ Karangu, Jessie (March 23, 2017). "Sam Ponder is named Sunday NFL Countdown host, Trey Wingo and Suzy Kolber take on new roles". USA Today. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "Samantha Steele". ESPN MediaZone. July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  4. ^ McIntyre, Jason (July 11, 2012). "Samantha Steele to Replace Erin Andrews as Host of Gameday on ESPNU; Heather Cox New Saturday Night Sideline Reporter". thebiglead.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  5. ^ "ESPN drafts Pollack to replace James on Thursday games". USA Today. June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.