ESPN and Stephen A. Smith Are Closing in on a New Deal That Could See the ‘First Take’ Star Branch Out at Disney

By the sound of things, ESPN star Stephen A. Smith is not going anywhere.

According to a new report from Variety, the Worldwide Leader in Sports and its biggest star are closing in on a new deal that will be finalized in a matter of weeks. The new contract could make Smith the highest-paid star at ESPN and allow him to expand his presence across The Walt Disney Company.

Photo: Fox News

Smith, whose contract expires in 2025, anchors the network’s flagship debate show, First Take. Previously, the sports personality made it clear that he would like to be the highest-paid on-air personality at the network.

ESPN Continues to Court the Biggest Stars in Sports Media

In June, the Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN was willing to offer Smith  $18 million a year, a 50% increase from his current pay of $12 million annual salary. When the two sides did not quickly come to an agreement, many wondered if Smith would look elsewhere.

Photo: ESPN

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, however, has shown an appetite for bringing sports media’s biggest stars under the ESPN umbrella. After adding the likes of Peyton Manning, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Shannon Sharpe, and Pat McAfee to ESPN’s talent roster, it seemed unlikely that he would let Smith escape.

Photo: Disney

Recently, ESPN also agreed to a deal to see Inside the NBA move to the network.

Smith May Expand His Horizons

Smith has previously shown a proclivity to branch out beyond sports into realms of politics and entertainment. The new deal may give him more leeway to pursue those interests, albeit under the Disney umbrella.

Photo: TV Line

No deal has been officially announced for now. However, it should only be a matter of time.

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