ESPN does not want one of its biggest personalities to leave the sports behemoth.
The network has offered “First Take” talking head Stephen A. Smith a five-year, $90 million deal ($18 million per year) to remain at ESPN with his contract expiring in 2025, according to Puck News.
ESPN reportedly pitched to William Morris Endeavor (WME), the agency that represents Smith, on the idea that he could become the highest-paid talent at the Worldwide Leader.
Nevertheless, Smith, according to Puck, is looking for around $25 million a year.
Before the start of the 2022 NFL season, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman signed mega contracts to join ESPN, with the latter signing a deal around $90 over five years, The Post reported at the time.
The news comes about a week after journalist and reporter James Andrew Miller spoke on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast about the early stages of the contract negotiations and that Smith wants a “big, big number.”
