Stephen A. Smith Signs New Multi-Year Contract with ESPN

The popular sports personality will continue to appear on “First Take” and other ESPN programming.
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Popular ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith will be sticking around at the network, as he has just agreed to a new multi-year contract renewal.

What’s Happening:

  • ESPN has agreed to a multi-year contract renewal with Featured Commentator/Executive Producer, Stephen A. Smith.
  • The deal will keep Smith as the fixture of First Take, ESPN’s weekday morning studio debate show, and he will continue to make appearances across ESPN programming.
  • Smith joined ESPN in 2003 and over the years contributed to various studio and radio programming, including The Sports Reporters, SportsCenter, Pardon the Interruption and many more.
  • Smith returned in 2012 as a featured commentator on First Take, discussing and debating sports topics of the day, in addition to appearing on numerous shows across ESPN platforms over the past decade.
  • The move comes as Smith has mulled the idea of a bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2028.

What They’re Saying:

  • Stephen A. Smith: “I’m happy and honored to remain a member of the Disney/ESPN family for, at least, the next five years. There’s only bigger and bigger things ahead. It starts with continuing to put in that work. See y’all soon."
  • Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman: “Stephen A. works incredibly hard to elevate the sports conversation day-in and day-out and we are grateful he will remain at ESPN. He is a difference maker, and fans are captivated by his deep sports knowledge, strong opinions and unmistakable flair."

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