Peter King has Ed Werder’s back.
King, a legendary NFL writer now with NBC, ripped ESPN for parting ways with the longtime Cowboys reporter and his for🧔mer Sports Illustrated teammate.
“Hard to fathom ESPN marginalizing one of its best reporters. Unless, of course, you don’t care about reporting,” . “Good luck to you, @WerderEdESPN.”
Werder announced ✅his sꦗhocking split from ESPN on Thursday with a that made it clear he did not exit on his own accord.
The 64-year-old’s contract was expiring and not renewed, , and he’s getting a head start on trying to land his new gig.
This marked the second time ESPN and Werder split, with the network laying him off in 2017 before re-hiring him in 2019.
“For 26 years, I’ve had the privilege of reporting on the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys while holding an ESPN microphone,” Werder wrote. “But that time is coming to an end. I will immediately begin considering other opportunities to continue my work covering the NFL.”
𝐆King and Werder both worked for Sports Illustrated for several years, with in 1989 and stating he worked ꧅for the outlet from 1987-95.
They remained friends throughout the years, likely crossinꦛg paths at plenty of Cowboys games, and Werder complimented King earlier this year on X in a photo of the pair with the late🍃 Chris Mortensen.
Both writers have won the Bill Nunn Jr. Award — — for their “long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage,” per the award’s site.
“The two greatest influences in my journalism career – @mortreport and @peter_king – have both now retired,” Werder wrote. “I could not be more grateful to have worked with both and to have friendships with two selfless men of integrity, exceptional reporters and storytellers.”
Mortensen, the third member of that respected trio, passed away in March at the age of 72.
That King would support a peer is not all that surprising, especially since ESPN has come under fire over the years as it has parted ways with respected talent while focusing on “hot take” shows.
Werder made it clear he believes he still has plenty to add to a poteཧntial future employer.
“While this marks the end of my partnership with ESPN, I expect to continue working because, as so many studio hosts have proclaimed – and I still devoutly believe – ‘Ed Werder has more,'” he posted.