Stephen A. Smith has subtly hinted at a potential departure from ESPN through recent activity on his social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).
On this platform, Smith shared a link to a story by Michael McCarthy from Front Office Sports, which had a headline suggesting that “Shannon Sharpe Could Be the Ideal Successor to Stephen A. Smith.”
With one stroke, the 55-year-old Sharpe has positioned himself as Smith’s successor if or when the face of ESPN departs for entertainment, acting, or politics. Smith only has two years left on his current deal and has talked about eventually moving to late-night TV.
Few among Smith’s new “First Take” ensemble – including Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Marcus Spears, or Ryan Clark — possess Sharpe’s debate chops after years of verbal combat with Bayless.
Shannon Sharpe, who previously co-hosted “Undisputed” on FS1 alongside Skip Bayless for nearly seven years, departed from the network earlier in the summer. It’s worth noting that Skip Bayless had previously collaborated with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s “First Take” before his move to FS1 in 2016.
In July, Smith raised eyebrows by acknowledging the possibility of being included in ESPN’s extensive list of layoffs.
This revelation surprised many, given that the 55-year-old broadcaster consistently delivers substantial viewership ratings for ESPN’s “First Take” program.
In a broader context, Disney CEO Bob Iger had announced in February plans to reduce the workforce by 7,000 employees, aiming to save $5.5 billion for the company.
This adds another layer of uncertainty regarding Smith’s future at ESPN.
Interestingly, Smith had expressed interest in taking over as the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” but this aspiration was short-lived, as it was swiftly revealed that Ryan Seacrest would assume the role when Pat Sajak steps down in September 2024.
