Molly Qerim to Leave ESPN's First Take at End of 2025

Molly Qerim, the long-running host of ESPN’s morning debate program First Take, announced she will leave the show and the network later this year, saying in an Instagram post that she has decided “it’s time to close this incredible chapter.” Reports, citing people familiar with the matter, say Qerim declined a contract renewal and will depart at the end of 2025.

In a message posted Monday night, Qerim said the news surfaced sooner than she intended and expressed gratitude for her time on the program. “Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” she wrote. She thanked colleagues, fans and viewers for “lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and the chance to be part of something truly special,” and added the words “Stay tuned,” fueling speculation about her next steps.

Media reports that first broke the news said ESPN had offered Qerim a new deal but that she chose not to accept it. The network and Qerim have not released further details about the negotiations or her reasons for leaving, and some accounts indicated the precise timing of her final episode on First Take had yet to be set.

Qerim has been a fixture at ESPN for nearly two decades. A...