Molly Qerim to Leave ESPN’s First Take at Year’s End

Molly Qerim, a fixture on ESPN’s First Take for the past decade, said she will step away from the show at the end of the year, confirming reports that her departure from the program will be immediate at year-end.

Qerim posted the announcement to her Instagram story late Monday, saying she had decided "it's time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take." She added that hosting the show had been "one of the greatest honors" of her career and thanked viewers and colleagues for their support. According to Sports Business Journal, ESPN offered Qerim a new contract earlier this year that she declined, a development that preceded her decision to leave the program.

Qerim, 41, became interim host of First Take in 2015 when she replaced Cari Champion and was named the permanent host later that year. She has co-anchored the program with Stephen A. Smith since taking the role, helping shape the morning debate format that has been a central part of ESPN’s daytime lineup.

In her post, Qerim did not explicitly confirm whether she would leave ESPN entirely after departing First Take, but she ended her message with "Stay tuned :)" and did not dispute reports that she was leaving the network. She noted that the news had surfaced earlier than she intended and that she had hoped to make the announcement differently.

Qerim joined ESPN’s digital and mobile team in 2006 and moved to on-air roles two years later as a host on College Football Live. She worked as a breaking news reporter for Fantasy Football Now on ESPN2, earning an Emmy in 2008 for her contributions to that show. Before joining ESPN, she had on-air experience with the NFL Network and CBS Sports Network.

First Take has been a ratings staple for ESPN, featuring daily debate segments and rotating contributors alongside its primary hosts. Qerim’s departure marks a notable change for the program and follows broader personnel shifts across sports media in recent years.

Qerim’s announcement prompted immediate public reaction on social media, where fans and commentators noted the end of her decade-long run as the show’s anchor. ESPN has not released an official statement about staffing plans for First Take beyond Qerim’s announcement.

Further developments about Qerim’s future plans or ESPN’s next steps for the program may follow as she completes her tenure at the end of the year.