Stephen A. Smith ‘rejected $90MILLION opening offer from ESPN with First Take host determined to be on par with Pat McAfee’
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has reportedly turned down a $90 million extension from the network.
Smith has become the face of ESPN through his unapologetic and animated work on First Take and will be renewed as his contract expires on July 25, 2025.
However, reports indicate that the network and the decorated journalist turned TV personality are at odds.
ESPN reportedly offered Smith a five-year extension last week at $18 million per year. John Ourand from Puck wrote that “ESPN executives had suggested to Smith’s WME agents that he would be their highest-paid star, earning more than Monday Night Football’s Troy Aikman or Joe Buck.”
Still, Smith is reportedly looking for an annual salary of $25 million, citing the fact that the on-air talent wants to be on the same level as Pat McAfee.
Stephen A. Smith has reportedly turned down a five-year, $90 million extension at ESPN
According to reports, Smith’s agents have told ESPN that they want him to do the same as Pat McAfee
WME reportedly pointed to McAfee’s deal, which brings in about $30 million between his studio show and appearances on College GameDay. WME also used ESPN’s $700 million deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions as comp.
In response, ESPN pointed out that neither McAfee nor Manning have a talent contract, but they do have a production deal. The World Wide Leader purchases the show from McAfee, covering production costs and staff salaries. The same goes for Manning, who produces the Manning Cast and other ESPN shows through Omaha.
During the negotiations, Front Office Sports reported that Smith could be worth up to $20 million per year as the network has been hit hard by Disney’s brutal layoffs.
Unlike McAfee’s production deal, the First Take host has a talent contract with the network
Smith also established himself as a key part of ESPN’s coverage of the NBA playoffs and finals
Smith’s agents used ESPN’s $700 million deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions as comp
The network had to cut many on-air positions in 2023 when parent company Disney ordered thousands of layoffs across the conglomerate.
Aikman, a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, currently sits at the top of ESPN’s salary rankings with a reported annual salary of $18 million.
ESPN spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Smith has a podcast partnership with iHeartMedia and recently produced a documentary for ESPN about the history of sports punditry.