ESPN veteran Chris Russo’s bold claim reveals what really pushed Molly Qerim to quit ESPN’s First Take (Image via Getty)

Molly Qerim shocked everyone when she suddenly left ESPN and her longtime role as First Take host last month. Many thought she would stay until the end of the year, but she announced her exit early through Instagram. A day later, First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith revealed that she had left ESPN completely. Now, veteran broadcaster Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has shared a surprising reason for her sudden move. Russo believes Molly left early because she felt embarrassed about being quietly replaced on the show.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo says Molly Qerim wanted to save face

Chris Russo spoke about Molly’s exit on the SI Media Podcast this week. He said ESPN bosses might have been planning to move her off First Take and “try something different,” even though the show’s ratings were fine. “It’s the nature of the beast,” Russo said. “You’re on air forever, and sometimes they just want to make a change.”According to Russo, ESPN probably wanted to keep Molly in the company but in a different role. He believes Molly didn’t want to take that offer because she may have seen it as a step down. “If I’m not going to do First Take, I don’t want to do SportsCenter,” he guessed she thought. Russo said she might have felt embarrassed if fans believed she was just waiting to be removed from the show.“I didn’t talk to her about the details,” Russo said. “But that’s what I think happened. She probably wanted to leave before everyone thought she was a lame duck.”

Earlier, former ESPN host Marcellus Wiley claimed that Molly Qerim was unhappy with her pay. On his Dat Dude TV podcast, Wiley said she earned around $500,000 per year, while Stephen A. Smith makes close to $20 million annually. Marcellus Wiley said Molly felt disrespected by the difference, especially since she had co-hosted one of ESPN’s most popular shows for a decade. Also Read: Simone Biles Opens Up About Her Mental Health Struggles During Argentina Trip Inspiring Millions With HonestyHe also said Molly wanted to start her own show, but ESPN didn’t approve it. “That wasn’t happening,” Wiley said. “They weren’t signing off on her doing her own show. Molly finally woke up and said enough is enough.”ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus later confirmed that Molly’s exit came as a surprise. He told The Athletic that contract renewal talks had failed and that Molly wanted to “explore other things.” Burke Magnus called her “a wonderful person and teammate,” adding that after ten years, she likely wanted a fresh start. “It became less about her role,” he said, “and more about her wanting to turn the page and try something new.”Molly Qerim’s sudden departure from First Take marks the end of a ten-year run that made her one of ESPN’s most familiar faces. While fans are still wondering what’s next, it seems her exit was a mix of timing, money, and a desire to move on.