Stephen A. Smith 'rejected $90MILLION opening offer from ESPN with First Take host determined to be on par with Pat McAfee'
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ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reportedly turned down an extension worth $90million with the network.
Smith has become the face of ESPN from his unapologetic and animated work on First Take and is due for an extension as his contract expires on July 25, 2025.
However, reports suggest that the network and the decorated journalist-turned-TV personality do not see eye-to-eye by a significant margin.
ESPN reportedly offered Smith a five-year extension for $18m-a-year last week. Puck's John Ourand wrote that 'ESPN execs pitched Smith’s WME agents that he would be their highest-paid star, earning more than Monday Night Football’s Troy Aikman or Joe Buck.'
Yet Smith is reportedly seeking a $25m annual salary, citing that the on-air talent wants to level with Pat McAfee in pay.
Stephen A. Smith reportedly turned down a five-year extension worth $90million with ESPN
Reports state that Smith's agents told ESPN they want him to make the same as Pat McAfee
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Stephen A. Smith 'could be worth as much as $20MILLION a year as he negotiates new deal with ESPN'
WME reportedly pointed to McAfee's deal, which nets around $30m between his studio show and College GameDay appearances. WME also used ESPN's $700m deal with Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions as a comp.
In response, ESPN pointed out how neither McAfee nor Manning are on talent contracts but are on production deals. The World Wide Leader buys McAfee's show, covering the costs of production and staff salaries. The same goes for Manning, who produces the Manning Cast and other ESPN shows through Omaha.
Through the negotiations, Front Office Sports reported that Smith could be worth up to $20m-a-year as the network has been heavily affected by Disney's brutal layoffs.
Unlike McAfee's production deal, the First Take host is on a talent contract with the network
Smith also established himself as a staple in ESPN's coverage of the NBA playoffs and finals
Smith's agents used ESPN's $700m deal with Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions as a comp
The network had to cut many on-air positions in 2023 as parent company Disney ordered thousands of layoffs throughout the conglomerate.
Aikman, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, currently ranks atop the ESPN salary rankings at a reported $18m-a-year.
ESPN spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Smith has a podcast partnership with iHeartMedia and recently produced a documentary for ESPN about the history of sports punditry.