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Last week, ESPN opted to let Damien Woody’s contract expire, ending the NFL analyst’s 15-year tenure with the network. Andrew Marchand broke the news for The Athletic, noting Woody’s decision to appear on ESPN for the rest of August. “Still processing it all, but I want to thank all of my colleagues at ESPN who made it a joy to talk ball for 15 [years],” Woody wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Being a guy who had a serious speech impediment to working on TV was truly one of my proudest accomplishments. Looking forward to what God has in store for me next!” Woody opened up more about his ESPN past and uncharted future while appearing on The Trey Wingo Show this week. Wingo addressed the elephant in the room to start the 44-minute episode by asking Woody how he’s processing it all. “You know what, Trey, it’s an adjustment,” Woody said. “Being at ESPN for 15 years, I’ve worked with a lot of really great people, yourself included […] over that period of time. It’s been a hell of an experience, and like a lot of people who’ve reached out, who have moved on from ESPN, I’m looking forward to seeing what else is out there and just talking ball.” Wingo, who departed ESPN in similar fashion in 2020, assured Woody that “the best part” of post-ESPN is “the freedom to be your own boss” and dictate what he does and does not discuss. “It’s quite liberating, actually,” Wingo said. “Yeah, I think that’s the thing that a lot of people have talked about since people have heard the news,” Woody said. “Like, yeah, you don’t have to succumb to, ‘we’re gonna talk about the Cowboys every show’ or this or that. You’ll have some freedom to do or say the things that you really want to say.” Wingo teased that he hopes his team at The Wingo Network “will be a part of” Woody’s future plans “in some shape or form.” Hearing Wingo say that, Woody’s appearance on The Trey Wingo Show very well could have been a soft launch of Woody joining The Wingo Network. Wingo hosts the Inside Football podcast alongside Cris Carter, Marvin Lewis, Steve Keim, and Brian Urlacher, which feels like a logical landing spot for Woody, especially if he values creative freedom outside of mainstream media. Before joining ESPN in 2011, Woody was a standout offensive lineman with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets across his 12-year NFL career. The two-time Super Bowl champion would be a seamless fit alongside the gaggle of ex-NFLers surrounding Wingo on Inside Football.