Is Stephen A. Smith about to develop into ESPN's highest-paid expertise?
As reported Front Office SportsThe First Take co-host and NBA analyst can earn as much as $20 million yearly in ongoing negotiations with the World Huge Chief.
At the moment, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman tops the ESPN wage rankings with $18 million per yr.
ESPN spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com's request for remark. Smith's present contract reportedly expires in July 2025.
The community was pressured to chop numerous on-air positions in 2023 as dad or mum firm Disney ordered hundreds of layoffs throughout the group.
The FOS writes that the important thing to Smith's future is the NFL – America's hottest sports activities league.
Sources advised FOS that it will be necessary for ESPN to retain Smith so he may cowl the NFL extra immediately. Smith, 56, idolized ABC's Howard Cosell in his youth, and needs to comply with his path to the gridiron.
Smith has additionally beforehand expressed a need for extra NFL protection.
“I'm trying on the NFL and saying, 'Wait a minute, I've achieved quite a bit in my life, however my idol was Howard Cosell, who was within the NFL,'” Smith advised Jason Barrett on the Barrett Sports activities Media Summit in March. “I speak concerning the NFL on First Take every single day. I feel I can do that. Abruptly you get enthusiastic about it.”
It's unlikely Smith will probably be within the Monday Night time Soccer sales space, as ESPN has already promised Aikman and Joe Buck a mixed $165 million by means of 2027.
ESPN will not be the one contender for Smith, who just lately dipped his foot into political infotainment with an look on Sean Hannity's Fox Information present. The New York native may construct his personal platform with the assistance of his company, WME.
'Stephen A.'s deal is nearing. In truth, I feel preliminary talks have already begun, insider James Andrew Miller reported. 'He's on the lookout for a giant, massive quantity.
'And I additionally assume that given the world of content material, he doesn't even must take one other provide from one entity for that massive a quantity. I feel the chance that ESPN faces is that WME can exit and create an structure the place Stephen A. has the podcast, has a take care of this, a take care of that, no matter it’s, and on the finish of the day, it's $20 million a yr.'
Smith at present has a podcast partnership with iHeartMedia, and he just lately produced a documentary on the historical past of sports activities punditry for ESPN.
