ESPN’s flagship show First Take will undergo a seismic shift following the news that its longtime host, Molly Qerim, is leaving the network.
Sports Business Journal was the first to report on Monday about Qerim’s departure after turning down a contract extension to stay. Just hours later, Qerim confirmed the news of her departure with a statement on her Instagram Story, saying that “the news came out earlier than I intended.”
Stephen A. Smith, the show’s star and an executive producer of the popular debate show, went on the air Tuesday and paid tribute to her.
“She’s hosted First Take for 10 years and elevated the show with her grace, her expertise, and incomparable kindness,” he said, in part. “She’s been an enormous part of our success for a decade. Not only did she keep me and many others in line, she did it with dignity, class and kindness, to say the least. We’ll miss her and wish her every blessing on her future.”
What ESPN is saying
ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, released a statement following Qerim’s confirmation.
“Molly has been an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and a key driver of First Take’s success since joining as host a decade ago,” he said. “She elevated the show with her poise, skill and professionalism, while supporting others as a kind and encouraging teammate. We respect Molly’s decision, wish her the best in the future, and thank her extraordinary daily commitment to sports fans and ESPN.”
What’s Molly Qerim’s next move?
That remains unclear. Qerim, however, teased in her statement that something’s on the horizon.
Before signing off on her statement, she wrote, “Stay tuned :)”
Is there more Molly Qerim’s exit?
It sure seems that way. Keyword, seems.
“That story is for her to tell. Do I have an idea, of course I do. Am I gonna share it with you? No” 👀
– Stephen A. Smith on Molly Qerim leaving First Take
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 16, 2025
Stephen A. Smith went on his podcast and said there’s a driving force behind Qerim’s departure announcement.
“That story is for her to tell,” he said. “Do I have an idea? Of course I do. Am I gonna share it with you? No.”
Molly Qerim’s impressive resume
Qerim, a proud University of Connecticut grad, first joined ESPN in 2006, contributing to the outlet’s digital and mobile platforms. She earned an Emmy in 2008 for her work on Fantasy Football Now.
Her next stops included CBS Sports in New York City, covering college football and basketball. She then headed to the West Coast to join the then-Culver City, California-based NFL Network as studio host of NFL AM and NFL Fantasy Live.
Qerim returned to ESPN in 2015 to take over as host of First Take.
According to her bio, Qerim is a philanthropist and ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Innocence Project, and an advocate for endometriosis awareness.
Qerim, who was previously married to former NBA star Jalen Rose before they divorced in 2021, was also inducted into Quinnipiac University’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2020, where she earned her master’s degree in broadcast journalism.
