Report: Paul Finebaum sidelined after discussing GOP Senate race

Paul Feinbaum Contemplates Senate Run Amid ESPN Controversy

Paul Feinbaum, a well-known SEC Network and ESPN analyst, has gained significant recognition in the South throughout his career covering college football.

Recently, he stirred conversation by mentioning in an interview with Clay Travis from Outkick that he might consider running for the open US Senate seat in Alabama in 2026.

Feinbaum shared that the murder of Charlie Kirk last month had a profound impact on him, and he recalled how ESPN had previously censored him while he was preparing to interview former President Donald Trump back in 2019.

Things escalated when Travis tweeted that ESPN had removed Feinbaum from his regular network appearances following the interview’s airing.

Per Source: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum because of an appearance in @espn on @outkick where he expressed interest in running for the Alabama Senate as a Republican. ESPN has canceled his appearances across all networks, including shows he’s been part of for more than a decade.
– Claytravis (@claytravis) October 6, 2025

Travis remarked, “Disney/ESPN has removed Feinbaum from future appearances because it will be displayed in ESPN. They’ve canceled all his network shows, even longstanding ones.”

In response, ESPN’s public relations team firmly denied the claims, deeming them “completely false,” according to a tweet by Bill Hofheimer, a vice president at ESPN.

Despite this denial, outlets like on3 and al.com reported that Feinbaum’s regular national appearances had indeed been halted following the interview.

While he continues hosting “The Paul Finebaum Show” on SEC networks and ESPN radio, his aspirations regarding the Senate haven’t translated into any notable national appearances since the interview aired.

Interestingly, he missed his usual Sunday “SportsCenter” segment and was absent from the Monday edition of “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith.

In a statement to Yellow Hammer News, ESPN mentioned that Feinbaum would actually appear on “First Take” the following Tuesday and would be back on “SportsCenter” this weekend.

Smith, who often discusses potential political runs and critiques Democrats, hinted that Feinbaum’s future ambitions might align with Democratic interests, though it remains unclear how this situation will evolve.

Whether ESPN’s decision not to feature Feinbaum is directly related to his political aspirations, or if it was a separate choice, is still up for discussion. However, it’s clear his visibility on major network television has diminished since he brought up the Senate candidacy.