The morning coffee just tastes a little different lately for sports fans who have spent the last decade waking up to the controlled chaos of First Take. If you’ve tuned in recently and felt like something was missing, you aren't imagining things. Molly Qerim, the steady hand that navigated a thousand shouting matches between Stephen A. Smith and a revolving door of analysts, is officially gone.
It wasn’t a slow fade. It was a jolt.
The news that Molly Qerim is leaving ESPN hit the wire in late 2025, but the way it actually played out caught almost everyone—including her own colleagues—off guard. Usually, when a major talent exits the "Worldwide Leader," there’s a long-winded goodbye tour, a series of tribute packages, and a sense of closure. This was the opposite. One day she was moderating a debate about the Cowboys’ playoff chances; the next, she was post-ESPN.
The Contract Breakdown Nobody Saw Coming
Look, media contracts are messy. But this one was particularly weird.
According to reports from the Sports Business Journal and later confirmed by ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, the network actually wanted to keep her. They offered her a new deal. Most people assumed she’d sign it because, honestly, First Take is the biggest platform in sports media. Why walk away from the peak?
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Well, the "vision" didn't align. That’s the corporate way of saying they couldn't agree on what her job should look like. Molly had been at the desk since 2015. Ten years. In TV years, that’s an eternity. Imagine sitting between Stephen A. Smith and Mad Dog Russo every single morning while they scream at each other about legacies. It’s exhausting.
Sources, including former ESPNer Marcellus Wiley on his Hydration Situation podcast, suggested that Qerim wanted more than just a seat at the debate table. She was looking for a raise that reflected her role as the "glue" of the network’s most profitable show, or perhaps the freedom to launch her own projects. ESPN balked.
Then came the leak.
When the Sports Business Journal broke the story that she wouldn't be renewing her contract, the plan was originally for her to stay until the end of 2025. She was supposed to be a "lame duck" host for a few months. But Molly didn't play along. Almost immediately after the report went live, she posted to her Instagram Stories, effectively saying "I'm out now."
Why the Abrupt Exit Mattered
Stephen A. Smith didn't even know. He said as much on his own show. He called the resignation "abrupt" and admitted he wasn't aware she was contemplating leaving that quickly.
There’s a lot of talk in the industry that the early leak of her departure embarrassed her. If you’re a professional at that level, you want to control your own narrative. You don't want to be the "person who is leaving" for four months while everyone auditions for your job right in front of you. So, she took the power back. She walked.
Since then, the chair hasn't stayed empty. ESPN moved fast, eventually naming Shae Cornette as the permanent replacement. Cornette, a veteran of SportsCenter and ESPN Radio, officially took the reins in November 2025. It’s a different vibe now. Cornette is sharp, but the 10-year chemistry Molly had with Stephen A. isn't something you just buy off a shelf.
What's Next for Molly?
So, where do you go after ESPN?
Usually, the path leads to a massive FanDuel or DraftKings deal, or maybe a jump to a rival like FOX Sports. But Molly’s first move was actually pretty low-key and honestly, kinda cool. She surfaced back at her alma mater, UConn. She moderated a Q&A with Dan Hurley to promote his book Never Stop.
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It felt like a reset.
There are persistent rumors about a multimillion-dollar offer from a streaming giant or a lifestyle-focused media brand. At 41, she’s in her prime. She’s also hinted at "staying tuned" for a project that might take her away from the 24/7 sports news cycle and into something more personal.
The Reality of the "First Take" Hot Seat
Being the moderator on First Take is the hardest job in sports TV. People think you just sit there and say, "What do you think, Stephen A.?"
Wrong.
You have to manage the clock. You have to handle producers screaming in your ear about commercial breaks while two grown men are mid-sentence about LeBron James. You have to pivot from a tragic news story to a comedy bit in thirty seconds. Molly did that for a decade without breaking a sweat.
Her leaving signals a massive shift in how ESPN values its "moderators." Are they just traffic cops, or are they stars? By letting Qerim walk over contract disputes, ESPN signaled they believe the brand of the show is bigger than the person sitting in the middle. Time will tell if they're right.
Moving Forward
If you're following the fallout of Molly Qerim leaving ESPN, here is what you should actually keep an eye on:
- The Ratings Gap: Watch if First Take maintains its lead over The Facility on FS1. Chemistry is everything in the morning, and a new host changes the molecules of the room.
- The Non-Compete: Usually, these big ESPN contracts have "non-compete" clauses that keep talent off the air for a few months. Expect a major announcement from Molly once that window closes in early 2026.
- The Podcast Pivot: Don't be surprised if she skips the "big network" route entirely and launches an independent media play. In 2026, you don't need a Bristol zip code to be a powerhouse.
The era of Molly and Stephen A. is over. It was a wild, loud, and incredibly successful decade. Now, we just wait to see where the "Stay Tuned" leads.
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Next Steps for You
To stay updated on Molly’s next move, keep a close watch on her verified social media channels, as she has traditionally used them to bypass traditional media leaks. If you are a fan of the First Take format, you should also check out Shae Cornette’s early episodes to see how the show’s "point-counterpoint" dynamic is evolving under new leadership.