You either love the volume or you mute the TV. There is no middle ground when it comes to ESPN Stephen A. Smith.
It is January 2026, and the man has officially become more than just a sports talker. He is a corporation. If you thought his 2025 contract extension was just about more money to yell about the New York Knicks, you haven’t been paying attention. We are talking about a guy who cleared $100 million in a single deal while simultaneously convincing his bosses he should work less on their flagship NBA programming. That’s a level of leverage most of us can only dream of.
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The $100 Million Pivot: Less NBA, More NFL
Basically, Stephen A. pulled off the ultimate "work smarter, not harder" move.
When the news broke in March 2025 that he’d signed a five-year, nine-figure extension, the numbers were staggering. $20 million to $21 million annually from ESPN alone. But the fine print was the real story. He basically walked away from the grind of NBA Countdown.
Honestly, it makes sense. The NBA schedule is a brutal, nightly slog of travel and late-night studio hits. By pivoting to a more "intermittent" role on Monday Night Countdown, he stepped onto the NFL stage—the biggest platform in American media—without the 82-game fatigue. Just this past week, we saw him pop up for the Steelers-Texans Wild Card game. It was classic Stephen A.: loud, opinionated, and somehow making a Scott Van Pelt impression feel like must-watch TV.
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He’s betting that his brand doesn’t need to be everywhere at once. It just needs to be where the eyeballs are the thickest. And right now, First Take is those eyeballs.
Why First Take Still Dominates the Morning
The ratings don't lie. Even after the shakeups—and yeah, we have to mention Molly Qerim and Shannon Sharpe moving on in late 2025—the show is still a juggernaut.
Last year, First Take averaged 517,000 viewers. That’s a 6% jump year-over-year. Think about that. In an era where everyone is cutting the cord and watching TikTok clips, a two-hour linear television show about sports debating is actually growing.
Why? Because Stephen A. Smith understands "poptimism." He knows he isn't just a journalist; he’s an entertainer. People tune in to see if he’s going to have a meltdown over a Cowboys loss or if he’s going to eviscerate a superstar for "blasphemous" play. It’s theater.
The Media Empire Beyond the Mouse
If you think he's just an ESPN employee, you're missing the forest for the trees. Stephen A. Smith is currently raking in nearly $40 million a year when you add up all the checks.
- ESPN: ~$21 million/year
- SiriusXM: $12 million/year (part of a $36 million three-year deal)
- YouTube/Podcast: ~$7 million/year
His production company, Straight Shooter Media (formerly Mr. SAS Productions), is now a full-blown content studio. Partnering with Kevin Frazier from Entertainment Tonight, he’s moved into scripted shows, documentaries, and even political commentary. This isn't just a side hustle. It's a calculated exit strategy from being "the sports guy."
You’ve probably seen the clips. He’s on YouTube talking about the 2028 presidential race. He’s on late-night talk shows winking at the camera when people ask if he'd run for office. He has become one of the few people at ESPN with a "politics" pass from Jimmy Pitaro. While everyone else has to "stick to sports," Stephen A. gets to be the exception to the rule.
Is the High Price Tag Worth It for ESPN?
There is a real risk here. Some critics, like those over at Barrett Media, have pointed out that Smith is becoming a "one-tool player" for the network. He’s the First Take guy, but he’s no longer the face of their NBA coverage.
If NBA Countdown ratings stay steady or—heaven forbid—go up without him, it raises a thorny question: Did ESPN overpay for a personality that is increasingly focused on his own brand?
But from where I'm sitting, Disney isn't just paying for his time. They’re paying for the "halo effect." When Stephen A. says something wild, it trends. When it trends, people go to ESPN.com or watch the clip on the ESPN app. He is the engine that drives the digital conversation. You can't replace that with a standard desk analyst, no matter how many rings they have.
Actionable Insights for the "Stephen A." Era
If you're watching the media landscape evolve, here's what the Stephen A. Smith saga teaches us about the future of entertainment:
- Personal Brand is Everything: Smith makes as much as Ja Morant or T.J. Watt. In 2026, being the person talking about the game is officially as lucrative as playing it if you have the audience.
- Diversify or Die: The reason he had leverage with ESPN is because he didn't need them. With a massive YouTube following and a SiriusXM deal, he could have walked. Always build your own platform.
- The "NFL Pivot" is Real: If you want the most reach for the least amount of "grind," the NFL remains the undisputed king. Smith’s move to trade NBA volume for NFL prestige is a blueprint for every major media personality.
The next few years are going to be wild. With the 2027 Super Bowl on the horizon for ESPN/ABC, expect Smith to be the focal point of everything the network does. Whether he actually ends up on a debate stage for a primary in 2028 is anyone's guess, but for now, he’s the undisputed heavyweight champion of sports media.
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Keep an eye on the Straight Shooter Media slate. The move into scripted content is where the real "mogul" status is earned. If he can produce a hit show that he doesn't even appear in, he’s officially moved into the Jerry Bruckheimer or Shonda Rhimes tier of media influence.