Legendary Molly Qerim exits ESPN after close to 10 years as host of First Take. The fans and the insiders are all shocked, flattered and guessing her upcoming career move.
What’s happening
- At the expiry of the year 2025, Molly Qerim will depart ESPN and First Take.
- ESPN was planning to renew her contract but she refused it and instead went to the elevated level of her career.
- She joined ESPN in 2006 to work in the digital/mobile and on the interactive reporting, and became the host of First Take in 2015.
What she said
- She described her experience as a host of First Take as one of the highest points of her career in her statement.
- She also thanked her co-workers, her audience and reminisced of the valuable experience and friendships that she has gained in doing the show.
- According to Qerim, the news was announced earlier than she wanted it to or, at least, not to her liking.
- She gave hints that there is more to come in her next chapter, that she said stay tuned.
What we don’t know (yet)
- Her last publication on First Take / with ESPN is not confirmed publicly, but is known to have ended at the end of 2025.
- We are yet to see what she will do next (post-ESPN).
What the people believe she could do next.
Her departure announcement seems to have certain stay-tuned undertones, so the following directions are reasonable:
- Other network or media platform has made a new offer.
She has a high profile and experience, so it is not surprising that some expect her to end up elsewhere, perhaps on FS1 or NBC Sports or a streaming partnership. Her credibility, brand and audience demand is worthy.
- Higher personal or passion-work.
Molly has been candid with health-related challenges (endometriosis) and is interested in advocacy. She could turn to work that is more flexible (podcasts, producing, documentary work, or social issues).
- Hosting or anchoring not in the format of a debate show.
The atmosphere of the First Take is heated, and there are back-and-forth and analysts etc. Instead, she may be more into different things, such as interview programs, longer-form programming or even non-sport hosting positions (or cross-over).
- Roles of executive or back-stage.
Having spent so long in front of the camera, another way out is that she now does more behind-the-scenes jobs – producing, content-curating, contributing to the programming shape.
- Entrepreneurial / brand transactions.
Possibly can increase work on endorsements, events, her own media brand, or can work collaboratively without restrictions of the big network.
- Having a day off / sabbatical.
She can perhaps use the remaining 2025 as a transition time, to recharge her batteries, to think over options, perhaps even to work on personal health or family projects.
What fan / insider responses are.
The reaction of people is as follows:
- Surprise & appreciation.
Some of the fans appear to be outraged, you know, she has been on First Take long enough moderating between large personalities, and some are even saying how thankful they are that she has been on the show.
- Theorizing her position and dynamics of the show.
Some of the fans are questioning how First Take can be the same without her who will moderate, what the chemistry will be like, etc. The presence of a person who is capable of handling debate, maintaining flow and pushing back is essential to the dynamic of the show.
- Criticism / “finally” comments.
There is a smaller group of responses that are less admiring- some viewers are pleased that she is leaving, and they do not like the manner in which she controls or communicates with Stephen A. Smith. These are the less positive or denigrative ones that you regularly encounter in sports media discourse.
- Industry respect.
News journalists and inside people appear to make a big deal out of her exit. She has left an indelible mark and been honored as a professional and people are talking of an end of a time.
- Interest in her next move.
There is curiosity: among fans or media viewers on what she will select as there has been some allusions to her having a wider range of directions she could pursue. She has not clarified, but with stay tuned in addition to her quote, people have been left to guess.
- Some disappointment.
To most of the viewers, she has been the order of things. Such remarks as I will miss her and the show will not be the same are being shared.
Conclusion
The departure of Molly Qerim as the guest of First Take on ESPN is not only a change of occupation, but it is a turning point in the history of sports broadcasting. Over the last ten years, she proved to be the leveling voice that headquartered the passionate arguments of Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and hundreds of other guest analysts, which provided the show with form and substance.
The fact that she will leave at the end of 2025 has shocked the fans, insiders, and industry peers alike, leaving people wondering what First Take will be like without her. Some might speculate she can move to a different network, or create a project of her own, or possibly become an advocate and venture of her own, but Qerim herself has kept the door open by only stating that she will stay tuned.
In either case, her ESPN experience will be remembered as one that did not simply adjust the position of a sports host, but rather transformed it, making it one that is unquestionably authoritative, but also friendly, hard but just, and whose impact will be felt by future generations in sports media.
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