Sports personality Stephen A. Smith has been a fixture on the air for ESPN for many years, and many people either find him entertaining or love to hate him.
He has been reportedly flirting with other opportunities in recent months, but he apparently wants to stick around with the network he has been associated with for a long time.
Per Front Office Sports, he’s talking to the network about becoming its highest-paid talent, and he also wants to become a part of its Monday Night Football crew.
Stephen A. Smith is in talks to become ESPN’s highest-paid talent—and wants to cover the NFL on Monday Night Football:
“I would love to work with Jason Kelce and Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark and my man Marcus Spears.”
Story on @stephenasmith‘s MNF goals from @MMcCarthyREV ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 9, 2024
Among other roles he has at ESPN, Smith is a co-host of “First Take,” its morning sports debate show, and he covers multiple sports for the network.
In addition to being a sports commentator, he has made a few cameo appearances on the soap opera “General Hospital.”
Recently, ESPN has made some major cutbacks which have resulted in some prominent personalities getting laid off, including NBA color commentators Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.
Smith, however, is the type of personality who brings in viewers, not to mention revenue, and is the type of person the network can ill afford to lose.
Many love to tune into First Take and other shows and watch him express his intense views, as well as his dislike of certain teams, such as the Dallas Cowboys.
According to Front Office Sports, Smith could become the first ESPN employee to get a $100 million contract, and that would ensure he will remain with the media outlet for many years to come.
NEXT:
Stephen A. Smith Reportedly Wants To Join New ESPN Show
