Molly Qerim announced she will step away from First Take at the end of the year, and her longtime co-host Stephen A. Smith opened the show's next broadcast with an emotional tribute in her absence.
Qerim, 41, confirmed the decision on Instagram after reports that she would be leaving both First Take and ESPN emerged. She did not appear on First Take's first broadcast following the announcement; Smith opened the show alone and paid public tribute to her contributions over the past decade.
"Normally, our friend Molly Qerim would greet you," Smith said. "However, Molly announced last night she will be departing from ESPN. She's hosted First Take for 10 years and elevated the show with her grace, her expertise, and her incomparable kindness. She has been an enormous part of our success for a decade. Not only did she keep me and many others in line, she did it with dignity, class and kindness to say the least. We'll miss her and wish her every blessing on her future. I, personally, am grateful to her for her friendship. I will miss spending every weekday morning with her."
ESPN President Burke Magnus also released a statement thanking Qerim for her work at the network. "Molly has been an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and a key driver of First Take's success since joining as host a decade ago," Magnus said. "She elevated the show with her poise, skill and professionalism, while supporting others as a kind and encouraging teammate. We respect Molly's decision, wish her the best in the future, and thank her for her extraordinary daily commitment to sports fans and ESPN."
In her Instagram message, Qerim wrote that the news reached the public earlier than she intended. "After much reflection, I've decided it's time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take," she wrote, adding that hosting the show had been "one of the greatest honors of my career." She thanked colleagues and viewers for "lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and the chance to be part of something truly special," and ended the post with, "Stay tuned :)."
Sports Business Journal reported that ESPN offered Qerim a new contract this year but that she declined, choosing to end her tenure on the network. Qerim joined ESPN in 2006 on the digital and mobile team, moved to College Football Live two years later and later worked as a breaking news reporter for Fantasy Football Now on ESPN2. She has been a First Take host alongside Smith since 2015 and received an Emmy in 2008 for her contribution to Fantasy Football Now.
Qerim's announcement drew immediate attention because First Take is among ESPN's flagship morning opinion programs and because she has been a consistent presence on the show for a decade. Her role involved moderating often combative exchanges between pundits and helping set the day's agenda, which viewers and colleagues have credited for the program's format and tone. Smith's tribute emphasized her role behind the scenes as well as on camera, calling her a steadying influence on the show's on-air personalities.
ESPN did not provide details about who will replace Qerim on First Take or whether she will remain with the network in another capacity. Qerim's statement and Smith's remarks both suggested an amicable parting; Magnus's note framed the departure as a personal decision and extended best wishes for her future.
Qerim's exit marks one of the higher-profile personnel changes at ESPN in recent years as the network adjusts programming and talent rosters. First Take's format, built around debate-driven segments and headline interviews, has made it a focal point for sports conversation across television and social platforms. Any announced replacement or shift in the show's structure is likely to draw attention from advertisers, viewers and ESPN executives alike.
Qerim did not immediately disclose her next steps beyond hinting that more news would follow. Smith said he would miss his daily interactions with her and extended personal appreciation for their professional partnership. ESPN's statement expressed gratitude for Qerim's decade of work on First Take and her longer tenure at the network.