ESPN to test replacements for Molly Qerim on First Take after shock departure
Network to assess in-house and outside candidates over a 30-45 day period following Qerim’s abrupt exit, with no definite plan yet.
ESPN is moving to replace Molly Qerim on First Take after the longtime host’s shock departure over the weekend. Qerim stunned viewers by abruptly ending her 19-year run with the network, including her tenure on the popular Stephen A. Smith-led show, despite earlier reporting that she would wrap up at year’s end. The 41-year-old confirmed Sunday via Instagram that she is bowing out as First Take host, and a day later Smith acknowledged that she has left ESPN entirely. It remains unclear why she chose to depart so suddenly, and the timing has prompted ESPN to rethink the show’s hosting duties as it plans for an upcoming transition.
ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus indicated the company will spend about 30 to 45 days testing a number of potential options before making a decision. “I don’t know if it’ll be someone in-house or not. We’re not locked into anything in particular,” Magnus told The Athletic. ESPN is set to trial a variety of candidates for the First Take hosting role, with the goal of identifying a successor who can carry the show forward after Qerim’s exit. There is no fixed timetable beyond the proposed 30 to 45 days, according to Magnus.
Qerim first joined ESPN in 2006, beginning on digital and mobile platforms before becoming a College Football Live host two years later. She also served as a breaking news reporter for Fantasy Football Now on ESPN2, earning an Emmy in 2008 for her work on the show. Seven years later she became the interim host of First Take when she replaced Cari Champion, who had moved to ESPN’s flagship SportsCenter. Within months she was named to the full-time role and remained in that chair for a decade. Magnus noted there were multiple dimensions to the decision: one, the renewal discussions; two, the reality that a decade on a top show is a long tenure. He stressed that Qerim’s departure was a personal decision as much as a business one, saying she wanted to explore other projects and opportunities beyond ESPN.
“She was going to come off First Take either way, and that was something we had already crossed that bridge,” Magnus said. “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? That’s what we were trying to do. I read a lot of stuff on X [formerly Twitter]. 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.”
The development comes as ESPN navigates how best to position First Take in a changing sports media landscape. Qerim’s departure ends a 19-year association with the network, including more than a decade as the face of First Take alongside Smith. While ESPN deliberates, executives say the plan is to audition a slate of candidates—potentially including in-house ESPN talent and external options—before finalizing a permanent fit. The decision timeline remains fluid, but the window Magnus described signals a structured, short-term search rather than an extended process.
For fans and colleagues, the move closes a chapter in sports television history. Qerim’s rise from a college football host to the lead moderator of one of ESPN’s most-watched programs highlighted her influence in sports talk. The absence of a public explanation for her exit has left questions about the show’s immediate future, including whether the next host will bring a similar dynamic or a new approach to the format.
As ESPN proceeds with the hosting review, executives emphasize a focus on maintaining the show’s energy and credibility while expanding its reach beyond traditional debate segments. The plan, at this stage, is to evaluate a diverse group of candidates and determine who can best maintain First Take’s profile in a crowded sports media space. The outcome will depend on which candidate can balance strong opinion with informed analysis and fit the evolving brand of the program. The situation remains a developing story in the sports media world, with industry observers watching closely to see how ESPN reshapes its flagship debate format in the aftermath of Qerim’s departure.