Molly Qerim Stepping Down from ESPN

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

ESPN offered her a contract to continue hosting First Take, but will leave ESPN at the end of the year:

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/molly-qerim-first-take-host-leaving-network.html

It will be interesting to see who might take over in 2026, considering how bombastic Stephen A. Smith is in general. Of course, every week we also have to hear the Radio Hall of Famer in Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo.

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

Stephen A. Smith confirmed the news Tuesday morning:

https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1967956598954823949

Molly posted her goodbye to the show on her Instagram Story.
She will definitely be missed:

https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/09/img_5805-591x1024.jpg

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

Who else besides Stephen A. could replace Molly as full-time host of FT?

I am hoping for either Shae Peppler Cornette or Courtney Cronin:

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/5-potential-replacements-molly-qerim-first-take.html

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

Stephen A. Smith, the man with what seems to be thousands of different speaking jobs took to his SiriusXM radio show this afternoon and he went into more detail on why Molly decided to leave from The Worldwide Leader:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdU0VRKDJiY

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/first- ... qerim.html

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

In a future Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch, here is some news regarding how The Worldwide Leader will choose Molly Qerim's replacement:

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/next-30-45-days-auditioning-replacements-molly-qerim.html

tommy7 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2025 6:02 am

Molly Qerim leaves being the longest serving First Take host in the show's history. She's been there for a full decade. That's much longer than any of the previous hosts.

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6423

Many fans may not know that Molly actually started her career at ESPN long before she landed on First Take.

She first started in 2006 working on digital/mobile efforts before moving over to the news team in 2008. That was a seven to nine year gap, so she definitely paid her dues.

What this means for her going forward is anyone's guess.

BatmanFan · **Joined:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:31 pm **Posts:** 891

I remember her on NFL Network before ESPN

Wide World of Women

Molly Qerim Stepping Down from ESPN

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