Sage Steele leaving ESPN after 16 years to ‘exercise my first amendment rights more freely’

Sage Steele is beginning a brand new chapter.

The longtime “SportsCenter” anchor introduced Tuesday she is leaving ESPN after 16 years to “train my first modification rights extra freely.”

“Life replace,” the 50-year-old Steele began on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter.

“Having efficiently settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I’ve determined to depart so I can train my first modification rights extra freely.

“I’m grateful for thus many great experiences over the previous 16 years and am excited for my subsequent chapter!”

Steele, who made her ESPN debut in 2007, sued the network and its parent company Disney final April over the circumstances that led to her being yanked off the air in 2021.

Steele was pulled off ESPN throughout a wave of controversy, during which she supplied crucial feedback in regards to the firm’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and former president Barack Obama.

Within the lawsuit, Steele claimed she was retaliated in opposition to over her feedback, violating her proper to free speech and her contract.

ESPN supplied Steele $501,000 to settle the lawsuit, Front Office Sports reported in June.

Steele’s legal professional, Bryan Freedman, supplied a condemnation of that provide in a statement to The Post.

“Disney and ESPN clearly admit their legal responsibility by providing to pay Sage Steele greater than half one million {dollars} for taking away her proper to free speech,” he mentioned. “The provide misses the purpose. Disney can’t buy their worker’s constitutional rights regardless of how highly effective they assume they’re.”

The main points of the settlement haven’t but been revealed.

Steele’s departure comes months after the community laid off over 15 on-air talents — together with Jeff Van Gundy, Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson — in a serious cost-cutting transfer.