Paul Finebaum, the longtime “Voice of the SEC,” is now contemplating a surprising shift. Finebaum is now shifting his bold, but often off-the-mark, opinions from sports media to politics. How? He is reportedly considering a Republican run for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, thanks to an opening left by Tommy Tuberville’s gubernatorial bid. In a recent interview with Outkick’s Clay Travis, Finebaum said, “[It was] something I never thought about before.” But then he shared that after talking with influential folks in Washington who expressed interest in him getting involved, he’s taking the idea seriously.

So what happens to his ESPN gig? The thing is, ESPN has a strict no-politics policy for its on-air talent. So this means that Paul Finebaum will have to give up his ESPN seat if he sets foot into the political industry. But before that could happen, a recent announcement by On3 shook up the entire America. “Disney has removed Paul Finebaum from appearing on ESPN network shows since expressing interest in running for Senate in Alabama,” On3 posts this news on X after Travis reports it based on their conversation.

But then, to counter this news, ESPN vice-president Bill Hoffheimer also posted his thoughts on X. “This is not true at all,” Bill writes. “The below is TOTALLY FALSE.” And let me tell you, the constant confusion didn’t really end there. Pete Nakos of On3 later confirmed the Paul Finebaum report, so both sides are now sharing their versions of the story.

Did ESPN really fire Paul Finebaum from the Network?

The thing is, ESPN has a strict no-politics policy for its on-air figures, thus Paul Finebaum clearly fits that mold. This policy was officially tightened in 2018 after slipping ratings and public disputes involving politics on-air. It happened when anchor Jemele Hill called President Trump a “white supremacist” on Twitter. After that, ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro stated that the fans are looking at a Sports Conglomerate network. And that is exactly why they expect a sports-only environment without political discussions, unless directly related to sports, such as athlete protests.

However, Radio host Dan Le Batard challenged this policy in 2019, when he criticized Trump’s rally chants targeting Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. He called ESPN “cowardly” for sidestepping tough political issues and lamented that commentators only touch politics when forced through a weak “sports angle.” But the policy remained the same. So it’s just fair for ESPN to decide on Paul Finebaum’s seat. The thing is, Finebaum’s currently a registered Republican in North Carolina, which is where he’s been voicing all his SEC takes.

But in his chat with Outlook, he mentioned he recently moved back to Alabama, where he ran a radio show for 30 years before heading to ESPN and the SEC Network. So chances are, he’ll be registering there soon. “Alabama has always been the place I’ve felt the most welcome, that I’ve cared the most about the people,” he said. “I’ve spoken to people from Alabama for 35 years, and I feel there is a connection that is hard to explain.” Finebaum is very much inclined to this idea clearly states his interest in getting a ticket.

Bill Hoffheimer’s denial or Pete Nakos’ confirmation: What’s true?

Back in 2014, ESPN made a big splash by bringing in Paul Finebaum. He was the network’s first on-air personality, instantly tying the SEC Network’s brand to the passionate college football culture. His daily radio show from Charlotte became appointment listening for fans craving fiery debates and insider drama. He even made regular appearances on heavy-hitters like “SportsCenter,” “College Football Live,” and “College GameDay,” and also lent his voice to ESPN The Magazine. So it’s natural for Bill Hoffheimer’s part to deny the reports of a decade-long sports personality getting fired. But let’s face it, it happened.

According to Clay Travis’ Outkick reports, the departure of Paul Finebaum is clearly confirmed. How? “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 posts on X. “ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus.” On top of that, Travis sincerely pushed back on Hoffheimer’s denial of this news. “LOL. This decision is above your pay grade, Bill. Why wasn’t Finebaum on Sunday AM SportsCenter yesterday?” Travis wrote.

“Or First Take this morning? For the first time in over a decade? Reacting to one of the biggest college football weekends of the year? I stand by my sources.” Now that’s some clear-cut confidence Travis is showcasing on this news. Plus, Pete Nakos confirming the news makes it an ironclad report in the sporting world. The silence was especially notable because Finebaum usually recaps college football weekly during his regular SportsCenter hit on Sunday morning. But instead, he appeared only on a lesser platform like ESPN’s College Football YouTube channel.