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ESPN’s long -standing day program “First Take” soon loses a familiar face. On Tuesday, long-time moderator and co-host Molly Qerim announced that she would leave the show and the network later this year.
“After much reflection, I have decided that it is time to close this incredible chapter and go away from ‘First Take’. Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career.
Qerim first joined ESPN in 2006. She replaced the former “First Take” host Cari Champion in 2015 and was named the show’s permanent host about two years later.
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Molly Qerim on the red carpet before the NFL Honours Show at Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 8, 2024. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)
Sports Business Journal, citing sources, reported that Qerim was offered a new contract to stay with the Disney-owned sports network. However, she reportedly rejected the offer.
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It is unclear when Qerim’s current agreement expires.
ESPNS “First Take” broadcasts from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with host Molly Qerim before Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic 2022 on September 2, 2022. (Julie Vennitti Botos / USA Today Network)
In a statement, an ESPN spokesman Qerim praised his contributions to the organization over almost two decades.
“Molly has been an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and an important driving force for ‘First Take’s’ success since accession as host a decade ago. She raised the show with her Poise, skill and professionalism, while supporting others as a friendly and encouraging teammate. We respect Molly’s decision, wish her the best in the future and thank her for her for her for her extraordinary day -to -day And Espn, “Burke Magnus, Espn President of Content, said.
Qerim has been a stable presence on the “First Take” writ, even though the show has undergone significant changes in the last decade. After replacing Skip Bayless in 2016, Max Kellerman eventually left in 2021.
ESPNS “First Take” broadcasts from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with hosts Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith ahead of Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio, September 2, 2022. (Julie Vennitti Botos / USA Today Network)
Later, he moved to a morning radio slot at ESPN and was also hosting a daily TV show until he left the network in 2023. The Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe appeared routinely by taking until it left in July after a solution was reached in a sexual assault case.
