Laura Rutledge (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Fans are blasting ESPN over their treatment of popular female reporter Laura Rutledge following a recent significant development.

Rutledge has been with the network since 2014, starting as a college football reporter and SEC Network host. She is now the host of ‘NFL Live.’

The 35-year-old was expected to replace Sam Ponder on ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ after the latter was terminated last week, with reports naming her as a candidate along with Mike Greenberg. However, the company has opted to go with the ‘Get Up’ host, much to the annoyance of folks on social media.

Popular outlet Awful Announcing also had a lot to say about the decision.

“NFL Live has become one of ESPN’s most dependable programs and the chemistry Rutledge produces with regular castmates like Mina Kimes, Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, and Marcus Spears is special,” they wrote. “You would be hard-pressed to find anyone say a negative word about Laura Rutledge regarding her hosting work at ESPN. She should be someone ESPN builds around as a present and future cornerstone of the network.

“And yet, when it comes to ESPN’s Sunday and Monday NFL pregame shows, ESPN has decided to pass over her in favor of male talent that quite frankly, don’t need the extra work or the extra platform. The optics of Rutledge being overlooked obviously aren’t great for ESPN. And it makes even less sense from a programming and talent perspective.”

Fans Were Hoping Laura Rutledge Would Replace Sam Ponder

The site shared the article on X/Twitter, attracting multiple like-minded reactions.

“Why do that when they could give Mike Greenberg every on-air hosting job they have and turn him into the Ryan Secrest of the network,” one fan fumed

“She hosts the only show there people actually like. Let us have that without messing it up,” someone else pointed out.

“Laura Rutledge hosts the only NFL show people actually watch, and she’s great at her job. Makes no sense for her NOT to get some shine,” said another.

“I really thought Rutledge was going to replace Ponder,” another comment read.

“Laura has earned the right to host Sunday nfl countdown I will keep doubling down on it greeny isn’t a fair hire,” a user declared.

Fans seem to agree that Rutledge was passed over for the gig, although she deserved it. Still, she will continue to be an important player on ESPN afternoons moving forward and should get other opportunities as long as she sticks around.