by Stephen A. Smith has been a fixed value at ESPN for two decades. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
(Aaron M. Sprecher via Getty images)
ESPN is said to have concluded another contract with one of the largest faces. The network has agreed to a five -year -old deal with Stephen A. Smith, who is reportedly worth at least $ 100 million, according to the Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
As part of the deal, the reporter and analyst will focus his time on ‘First Take’, ESPN’s popular morning program, but will shill his time back on other shows on the network. Smith has been on the network for two decades and became a permanent competition in 2012 on “First Take”.
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As of March and Smith will no longer be a fixture in the NBA -Pregame show from ESPN, but it can still appear on “Monday Night Football” or other Primetime events on the network.
ESPN pays Smith $ 20 million a year under the New Deal; Smith’s previous deal with the network gave him $ 12 million a year.
The colossal six -digit deal is a deviation in the industry, so that Smith is placed in a similar company with the controversial athletes he treats. To put things in perspective, Smith will earn more money every year than important NBA players such as Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell and Chris Paul under the new contract. The Smith deal is even identical to the then historical contract that Linebacker Roquan Smith van Baltimore Ravens (no relationship) signed two years ago.
But ESPN is willing to bet on Smith, who has become one of the most recognizable faces of the network. His brash, brutal slogan and strong hatred for the Dallas Cowboys have made Smith a unique figure in the sports world.
Furthermore, by scaling back his ESPN appearances, Smith will have the free time to appear on other platforms. As of March and the possibility of reducing his performances, Smith also enables to earn money outside ESPN and also to talk more about politics about other shows. Smith has increasingly pronounced politics and even declared his ambitions for a presidential run in 2028.
