Veteran host Molly Qerim reportedly stepping away from ESPN’s ‘First Take’

Molly Qerim, one of the faces of ESPN’s First Take for nearly a decade, is reportedly preparing to leave the network at the end of 2025. According to Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp, ESPN offered Qerim a new contract to stay on, but she chose to move forward with the next phase of her career. The decision marks the end of a run that began in 2015 when she became the permanent moderator of the popular debate show.Molly Qerim has been a central figure on First Take, working alongside Stephen A. Smith and a rotating cast of analysts who have helped make the program one of ESPN’s signature offerings. She originally joined ESPN in 2006, starting in digital and mobile roles before shifting to the news team two years later. Her early work included serving as an interactive host on College Football Live and a reporter for Fantasy Football Now, which earned her an Emmy. However, per reports, she is looking to leave the network for reasons unknown.Before her full-time return to ESPN, Qerim spent several years at CBS Sports and the NFL Network, where she hosted NFL AM and NFL Fantasy Live. In 2015, she stepped in as a fill-in moderator for First Take during the summer, eventually replacing Cari Champion later that year. Her tenure has been defined by her ability to balance Smith’s strong personality with thoughtful, measured hosting that keeps the program engaging and fast-paced.Throughout her career, Qerim has been open about the drive that led her to sports broadcasting. “I always knew I wanted to be a journalist or television host from a very young age,” she told New Era earlier this year. “Probably about 12 years old, I remember buying magazines, and I would rip out profiles on different journalists and TV hosts and study them and their path. I knew that’s what I always wanted to do. The goal was to build a platform and help as many people as I can, and that’s still the goal today.”She also spoke about the joy she finds off-camera. “My favorite time at work is either when I’m on set with the guys, cracking jokes with each other and having a good time,” Qerim said. “And also interviewing – I’m really fascinated by people when I can connect and learn from them and hear their story. In terms of athletes, you want to convey the truth and their story. You want to inform the viewer and also entertain them – sports are hopefully a respite.”Also Read: Phil Mickelson explodes at sick online support for Tyler Robinson after Charlie Kirk assassination in UtahWith her departure looming, ESPN must look for a new moderator for one of its most-watched daily programs, while Qerim closes a defining chapter in her broadcasting journey. So far, Qerim’s next move is unclear.