NFL

Stephen A. Smith And ESPN Close To New Contract

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By
Dan Girolamo
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Dan Girolamo Sports Editor

Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.

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Sports Editor

Published03 Dec 2024

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Stephen A. Smith sits at a desk and stares.

It’s only a matter of time before Stephen A. Smith has a new contract with ESPN. Per Variety, Smith and ESPN are “close” to reaching a new deal.

Stephen A. Smith’s New Contract

Smith’s contract extensions will reportedly include access to other branches of Disney.

Variety states that Smith and ESPN have been negotiating for “several months” and hope to reach a deal over the “next several weeks.”

Smith’s new deal will likely include a “first-look” agreement allowing ESPN and Disney to develop “Smith-backed concepts across Disney’s general entertainment properties.”

Smith has made it abundantly clear that he wants to be one of ESPN’s highest-paid employees, which would put him north of $20 million annually.

The Wall Street Journal reported in June that ESPN offered Smith a multi-year deal worth $18 million annually, a 50% increase from his current salary of $12 million per year.

Smith’s contract expires in 2025.

Stephen A. Smith Remains One Of ESPN’s Most Important Employees

There’s no debate about Smith’s impact on ESPN. The charismatic media personality is one of the five most important employees in the company.

Smith is the host of ESPN’s top-rated morning show, First Take. The 57-year-old is one of the analysts on NBA Countdown and frequently appears on ESPN’s flagship shows, including SportsCenter and Get Up.

In recent years, Smith has built a successful podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show. Smith has also delved into politics, appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity and NewsNation with Chris Cuomo.