ESPN Owners EXPLODE as Molly Qerim Signs NEW Contract Outside of ESPN!

Molly Qerim’s departure from ESPN’s First Take was anything but ordinary.

After a decade of moderating fiery debates between Stephen A. Smith and a rotating cast of analysts, she walked out of the studio on September 15, 2025, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and stunned colleagues.

What followed was a whirlwind of events that exposed the inner workings of ESPN, revealed the toxic dynamics between its stars, and highlighted the systemic undervaluation of female talent in sports media.

The drama began with contract negotiations that had been dragging on since January 2025.

Despite her pivotal role in transforming First Take into ESPN’s highest-rated morning program, Molly was presented with a lowball offer that many insiders described as insulting.

ESPN proposed a four-year deal with a base salary between $700,000 and $850,000, escalating annually by 5%, and $200,000 in performance incentives.

For someone who had helped boost viewership by 45% and generated over $100 million in annual ad revenue, this offer was a slap in the face, especially when compared to Stephen A. Smith’s $20 million annual paycheck.

The negotiations weren’t just about money.

ESPN wanted Molly to spread her time across other ventures, including documentaries and women’s sports panels, diluting her focus on First Take.

Insiders described the network’s approach as disrespectful, implying she was interchangeable despite being integral to the show’s success.

The final straw came when Sports Business Journal leaked details of the negotiations, turning what should have been private discussions into public spectacle.

Feeling cornered, Molly made a bold decision: she announced her immediate resignation via Instagram, bypassing the end-of-year timeline suggested by the leaked report.

Her departure sent ESPN into chaos.

Stephen A. Smith, visibly shaken, delivered the news on air, calling her exit “abrupt” and admitting he was blindsided.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for ESPN, coming in the middle of football season when First Take’s ratings were at their peak.

While the show initially saw a 15% ratings surge due to curiosity, the absence of Molly’s stabilizing presence soon became apparent.

Social media exploded with reactions, and hashtags like #MollyQerim and #LetMollySpeak began trending nationwide.

But the story didn’t end there.

Molly’s exit wasn’t just a resignation—it was a power play.

Former ESPN host Marcellus Wiley released a theory that reframed her departure as one of the most strategic moves in television history.

According to Wiley, Molly had grown frustrated with Stephen A. Smith’s outsized influence at ESPN.

As an executive producer of First Take, Smith wielded significant control over segment choices, guest bookings, and even the speaking time of his co-hosts.

Production logs revealed that Smith often dominated episodes, leaving Molly with only 15-20% of the airtime.

Wiley alleged that Molly’s departure was her way of exposing the imbalance and proving her indispensability.

The gender dynamics of the situation were hard to ignore.

A 2025 report from Sports Media Watch found that female hosts in debate formats face 30% higher scrutiny and earn 35% less than their male counterparts.

Molly’s situation epitomized this inequality.

Despite being Emmy-nominated and boosting female viewership by 30%, she was offered a fraction of what her male co-host earned.

Her departure forced ESPN to confront these uncomfortable truths, even as they scrambled to maintain their flagship show’s quality without her.

As ESPN struggled to contain the fallout, rival networks seized the opportunity.

Within days of her resignation, a bidding war erupted, revealing Molly’s true market value.

Fox Sports reportedly offered her a three-year deal worth $2 million annually, with bonuses that could push her earnings to $3 million per year.

The package included lead host status, creative control, and veto power over co-panelists—privileges ESPN had refused to grant.

Amazon Prime Video and NBC Sports also expressed interest, offering lucrative deals for NFL-focused programming and college football coverage.

Fox’s offer was particularly strategic.

By positioning Molly as the face of their sports programming, they weren’t just acquiring talent—they were launching a direct assault on ESPN’s morning dominance.

The deal included performance bonuses tied to outpacing First Take in key demographics, signaling Fox’s intent to capitalize on Molly’s departure.

For Molly, the offers represented a dramatic shift in her career trajectory, validating her decision to leave ESPN and proving that she was far more than a “traffic cop” for Stephen A. Smith’s monologues.

The bidding war exposed ESPN’s failure to recognize Molly’s worth, but it also highlighted deeper issues within the network’s culture.

Stephen A. Smith’s influence had created an environment where talent advancement depended on his approval, rather than merit.

Molly’s departure was a wake-up call for ESPN, forcing them to reevaluate their approach to talent management and workplace dynamics.

As Molly takes her time to weigh her options, her story continues to reverberate through the sports media industry.

Her departure has sparked conversations about gender equality, workplace culture, and the value of moderators in debate formats.

It’s a story of resilience, strategy, and self-worth—a reminder that sometimes walking away isn’t just an exit; it’s a statement.