ESPN, Molly Qerim part ways as renewal talks break down
Network plans a 30- to 45-day audition period for a new First Take host after Qerim’s exit, with ESPN signaling the separation was driven by business alignment rather than controversy.
Molly Qerim will depart ESPN’s First Take when her contract expires at the end of 2025, after renewal talks with the network did not produce an extension, Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, said in an interview with The Athletic.
Magnus indicated the decision to move on had been in the works prior to Qerim publicly announcing her departure, noting that negotiations and a broader question of how to diversify her role within ESPN converged into a clean break rather than a renewed, extended tenure on the program. The network had hoped to keep Qerim in a prominent role while expanding her duties, but the two sides ultimately were not fully aligned on a future arrangement.
There was a couple of dimensions to this, one being renewal conversations and the other being that ten years on a top show is a long run. I’m not going to speak for her, but I think there was a feeling that she wants to do other things, and successfully being on a top show like that for a decade qualifies as maybe I can turn the page and do something else. We tried to have her do other things and to redo that agreement. It honestly became less about that, and more about, in my opinion, her wanting to do other and explore other things. It ended up being easier for her to make a clean break entirely. She was going to come off First Take either way and that was something we had already crossed that bridge. So it was from our perspective much more about what else could she be doing, how could we make her more versatile, get her involved in different things? There’s no controversy here. There’s no shoe that’s going to drop. She’s an awesome person. You know, it’s business. You try your best and we just weren’t totally aligned. I totally respect her interest, in rather than going into a less defined situation, to make a clean break and try to do other things outside of ESPN.
Magnus said the company will take 30 to 45 days to try out a variety of candidates for the First Take hosting role, adding that it may be an in-house or external hire. ESPN will assess a pool of potential replacements as it looks to preserve the show’s format and audience appeal while allowing Qerim to pursue other opportunities elsewhere within or beyond the network.
Qerim announced her departure from ESPN on her Instagram Story on Monday, writing that the news came out earlier than she intended. The post followed reports from Sports Business Journal that she had declined ESPN’s offer for a new contract and would depart at year’s end. Magnus did not frame the decision as the end of a broader controversy, emphasizing instead that it reflected a business choice tied to both timing and direction for her career.
In discussing the transition, Magnus indicated he would share additional context on the matter on the Sports Media Podcast in the coming days, signaling ESPN’s intent to provide clarity about the next phase for First Take and how the network hopes to fill the hosting chair.
First Take has been a cornerstone of ESPN’s morning lineup since Qerim joined the program in 2015, anchoring a show that blends sports debate with high-profile guests and social-media engagement. Her decade on the air had helped shape the program’s identity at a moment when media ecosystems prize versatile talent capable of cross-platform work. ESPN’s approach to the hosting role reflects a broader industry pattern: networks increasingly seek talent who can contribute across multiple projects and platforms, rather than a single show, amid a rapidly evolving media landscape.
As ESPN begins its search, the industry will watch how the network positions the role, whether it leans toward internal development from within its talent roster or looks outside for a fresh voice to lead First Take in a changing market. The outcome could influence how other networks approach talent strategy for flagship programs in an era of digital disruption and fragmented audiences.
For Qerim, the move closes a long and visible chapter with ESPN while opening potential opportunities elsewhere in sports media. The negotiation dynamic described by Magnus suggests a deliberate pivot rather than an abrupt exit, underscoring how business considerations shape even the most prominent on-air partnerships in today’s market.