All about entertainment. — All about sports.

ESPN Show "First Take" potential new co-hosts for Molly Qerim's position, with Stephen A. Smith, as contenders include three notable figures

ESPN's push to find a replacement for Molly Qerim is underway, following her announcement of departure on Tuesday

, and ASMedia

2025 September 19 . 7:12 AM

2 min read

Potential contenders for Molly Qerim's position on First Take: Three individuals that could join... — Potential contenders for Molly Qerim's position on First Take: Three individuals that could join Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's talk show

ESPN Show "First Take" potential new co-hosts for Molly Qerim's position, with Stephen A. Smith, as contenders include three notable figures

In a surprising turn of events, Molly Qerim announced her departure from ESPN and its popular breakfast sports show, First Watch, on Tuesday. Qerim, who joined ESPN in 2006 and became the host of First Watch in 2015, has been a staple of the program, known for her engaging style and viral moments, such as pranking Shannon Sharpe.

Qerim's departure leaves a vacancy on First Watch, and speculation is rife about who might replace her. One surprising contender is Stephen A. Smith, the host of The Stephen A. Smith Show, whose podcast has seen great success. Another name being bandied about is Shae Peppler Cornette, a current ESPN employee who is well-versed in sports broadcasting.

Courtney Cronin, who has experience with the fast-paced format of First Watch, is also being considered. Cronin, who has over 49k followers on Instagram, has guest-hosted First Watch and is highly rated for her NFL reporting. If Qerim were to leave First Watch for another network, a likely replacement could be someone already familiar with ESPN or sports broadcasting, but no specific names have been confirmed publicly.

Joy Taylor, a former Yahoo Sports employee, is another strong contender to replace Qerim. Taylor was famous for moderating a former Yahoo show between Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. Taylor was dropped by Yahoo back in July after nine years with the broadcaster.

Stephen A. Smith opened First Watch on Tuesday without Qerim and paid tribute to her. Smith hinted at the 'uncomfortable reason' behind Qerim's decision to quit on his podcast. There were negotiations between ESPN and Qerim over a contract extension, but she has opted to move on.

Before her full-time role on SportsCenter, Cornette was a leading figure on ESPN's college sports coverage and digital shows during major events. Cornette began her career on Big Ten Network and The Chicago Huddle on ABC 7 before joining ESPN.

Before Sharpe's firing by ESPN, he and Taylor were known for their heated debates on First Watch. Smith, Qerim, and Cornette have all shown their ability to handle the fast-paced format and manage fiery debates, making them suitable candidates for the role.

As for Qerim, she may jump to another network after her departure from ESPN. Amazon Prime could be a potential network for her, as it will debut as an NBA rightsholder this fall.

In conclusion, Molly Qerim's departure from First Watch marks the end of an era for the popular sports talk show. With speculation about her potential replacement in full swing, it remains to be seen who will step into Qerim's shoes. One thing is certain, though - the world of sports broadcasting is in for an interesting twist.