Veteran sports broadcaster Molly Qerim is stepping down from her role as host of ESPN’s First Take and leaving the network entirely, she announced this week. Her departure marks the end of a significant era for the long-running morning debate show.
In a message shared on social media, Qerim expressed gratitude for her time at ESPN and particularly her tenure on First Take. “After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” she wrote. “Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career.” She added that she may have future plans to announce soon, encouraging fans to “stay tuned.”
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Qerim, 41, joined ESPN in 2006 and initially covered college football and fantasy sports. She became the full-time host of First Take in 2015, taking over from Cari Champion. At the time, the show aired primarily on ESPN2 but has since become one of the network’s flagship programs. Before her time at ESPN, Qerim worked as an anchor for CBS Sports Network.
Stephen A. Smith, the show’s longtime analyst and co-host, paid tribute to Qerim during Tuesday’s broadcast, describing her as “an enormous part of our success for a decade.” He praised her professionalism, adding that she “kept me and many others in line” with “dignity, class and kindness.”
Known for her steady and composed presence on a show often defined by heated sports debates, Qerim earned widespread respect among fans and colleagues alike.
Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, also issued a statement acknowledging her departure: “We respect Molly’s decision and thank her for her outstanding contributions. We wish her the very best in her next chapter.”
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