ESPN’s Molly Qerim was a no-show on the set of “First Take” on Tuesday morning. According to host Stephen A. Smith, Molly abruptly quit the show last night after 10 years.
Stephen made the announcement this morning, saying “Good morning and welcome to First Take. Normally, our friend Molly Qerim would greet you. However, Molly announced last night she will be departing from ESPN. She’s hosted First Take for 10 years and elevated the show with her grace, her expertise and her incomparable kindness… we’ll miss her and wish her every blessing on her future.”
He added: “I personally am grateful to her for her friendship and I will miss spending every weekday morning with her right by my side.”
Stephen A. Smith: “Good morning and welcome to First Take. Normally, our friend Molly Qerim would greet you. However, Molly announced last night she will be departing from ESPN. She’s hosted First Take for 10 years and elevated the show with her grace, her expertise and her… pic.twitter.com/2aAmG8d2N7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 16, 2025
According to Sports Business Journal, Molly, 41, announced she planned to leave the show at the end of the year.
But she said her goodbyes on Monday night in a post on her Instagram Story.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” Qerim wrote on her Instagram Story. “Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate, and entertaining voices in sports — and with all of you, the best fans in the world.”
Molly is the ex-wife of former NBA star Jalen Rose. He filed for divorce in April 2021, saying the marriage is “irretrievably broken.”
Molly and Jalen went public with their romance on the set of First Take in 2016.
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