Stephen A. Smith has reportedly re-upped with ESPN.
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, the two sides have agreed to a new five-year contract worth at least $100 million. As part of his new reported deal, Smith will cut back on appearances on other ESPN shows, allowing him to pursue opportunities outside of the network.
Smith will continue to regularly appear on the daytime debate show First Take.
During his appearance on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace in Sept. 2024, Smith was asked about demanding "something in the range of $100 million for five years," to which the 57-year-old said he was "fully aware of what I'm worth."
"I would ask, respectfully, pay attention to the industry, see what people are getting paid," Smith said. "See how much money they're making and what they're bringing to the table. Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240 million. He's making $60 million a year."
Stephen A. used Prescott’s contract to point out how the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is being paid top dollar, despite winning "two playoff games in eight years." In comparison, the First Take commentator claimed he has been "No. 1 for 12 years."
"I'm sorry, in our respective industries, I win," he continued. "And I'm fully aware of what I'm worth, and I will never apologize to that for anybody."
The Athletic reported in December that Stephen A. and ESPN were in talks on a six-year, $120 million deal, making him the network’s highest-paid on-air personality. While the total figures have reportedly changed since then, Smith will still earn $20 million per year, a far cry from his previous annual salary of $12 million.
