Stephen A. Smith will continue to be ESPN’s staple — and make a lot of money while doing so.
The longtime reporter and analyst has agreed to a five-year extension worth at least $100 million, according to The Athletic.
Smith has been a longtime host of “First Take,” which will continue to be his primary duty with the network, the report said.

Stephen A. Smith accepts the Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award onstage during the 27th Annual UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s “Taste for a Cure” Event at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California, on May 10, 2024. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for UCLA)
The report also stated that he will make fewer other appearances, which will give him more rein on his own podcast. There, he further dives into other topics, including plenty of politics.
Smith has been a regular on NBA programming with the network, but The Athletic says that will no longer be the case.
The 57-year-old has also hinted at a political run. In an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Wednesday, the sports journalist initially claimed that he “doesn’t want” the position, but he then made a comment that seemed to strongly hint at the possibility of a presidential run.

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith hinted that he may consider running for president in 2028 while appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Wednesday night. (Screenshot/NBC)
“And I’m saying, ‘Wait a minute now. I don’t want to do this.’ But the fact that they’re talking about me this way, I must say, I approve this message,” he said.
The “I approve this message” comment clearly didn’t get by Fallon, who exclaimed, “Oh, my God!” in response.
Smith was critical of former President Joe Biden but voiced support for former Vice President Kamala Harris during the election cycle. A critic of President Donald Trump, he has regularly criticized the Democratic Party and their messaging ahead of the election as well as after Trump won.
The roughly $20 million annual salary is a huge raise for Smith, who had been making $12 million per year, per The Athletic.

Stephen A. Smith argues that modern Democrats have forgotten their own past successful policies. (Stephen A. Smith YouTube channel)
Smith previously wrote for the New York Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and even did local radio in both New York and Los Angeles for ESPN.
News
To AVOID Glasses FOREVER: Dr. Barbara O’Neill Reveals NATURAL FOODS You NEED for Better Vision
Discover the top natural foods for better vision recommended by Dr. Barbara O’Neill. Learn how to avoid glasses forever with…
Discovering the Remarkable Lactuca Serriola Benefits for Holistic Healing
Lactuca serriola benefits extend beyond mere culinary applications, offering a treasure trove of therapeutic properties that resonate with both traditional…
The Magic of Banana Peel Liquid: A Zero-Waste Solution for Your Home and Garden
The Magic of Banana Peel Liquid: A Zero-Waste Solution for Your Home and Garden Banana peels are often discarded as…
The Surprising Benefits of Using Mugwort for Foot Soaks and Applications
The Surprising Benefits of Using Mugwort for Foot Soaks and Applications Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), a plant often celebrated for its…
How to Build a Homemade Egg Incubator Using a Water Bottle
Embarking on the journey of hatching eggs can be both exciting and educational. While professional incubators can be costly, there’s…
10 Clever Ways to Reuse Lemon Seeds at Home
10 Clever Ways to Reuse Lemon Seeds at Home Lemons are among the most commonly used citrus fruits in the…
End of content
No more pages to load