NFL legend Drew Brees will join Stephen A. Smith on First Take after Molly Qerim abruptly quit.
Qerim hosted the ESPN show and mediated heated debates between Smith and his guests.
Drew Brees will join Stephen A. Smith on First Take after Molly Qerim abruptly quit[/caption]
But Brees will be a weekly contributor on First Take adding to resurgence in the media after an appearance on Fox’s NFL coverage.
The former quarterback will still be able to pursue other broadcasting opportunities outside of ESPN.
Brees worked for NBC during the 2021 NFL season but mostly remained out of the spotlight since.
Now, the ex-New Orleans Saints star is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow greats Tom Brady and JJ Watt in post-retirement venture.
“I’d step in the booth right now and be a top-three guy,’ Brees told Dan Patrick.
“Like, without question. And then you give me a few years, and I could be the best.”
Qerim spent 19 years at ESPN and a decade hosting First Take.
She took to social media last week to confirm her exit, but she will remain on the show for the remainder of the year.
Sources told The US Sun that Fox have offered Qerim a $2 million contract for three years.
ESPN are yet to announce her replacement, but has said they will trial presenters over the coming months.
Speaking to The Athletic, ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus discussed his surprise at Qerim’s decision to leave.
He said, “Molly Qerim is a wonderful person and an unbelievable teammate and colleague.
“There was a couple dimensions to this. One, is obviously we were in a renewal conversation.
“Two, is 10 years to do something like that is a long time.
“I’m not going to speak for her, but I think there was a feeling that she wants to do other things.
“And successfully being on a top show like that for a decade qualifies as maybe I can turn the page and do something else.
“We tried to have her do other things and to redo that agreement.
“It honestly became less about that, and more about, in my opinion, her wanting to do and explore other things.
“It ended up being easier for her to make a clean break entirely.”
Qerim hosted the ESPN show and mediated heated debates[/caption]
Qerim spent 19 years at ESPN and a decade hosting First Take[/caption]
She will remain on the show for the remainder of the year[/caption]
Her next move in unconfirmed[/caption]
