ESPN’s Molly Qerim Leaving After 10 Years as First Take Host

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Molly Qerim has shared her final take.

The popular ESPN host is leaving her position as the host of *First Take*, a show she’s been with since 2015.

Molly shared on Instagram on September 16th that hosting the show was a high point in her career. She said she loved working with incredibly talented and engaging sports personalities every day, and she especially appreciated the support of the show’s fantastic fans.

The 41-year-old also expressed her gratitude for the experiences she’s had, saying it brought her lasting friendships, incredible memories, and the opportunity to be involved in something meaningful.

Molly expressed her sincere thanks for everyone letting her into their homes. She asked viewers to stay tuned and signed off with love and gratitude.

Molly admitted the news about her leaving was revealed sooner than she planned and not how she’d envisioned, but she didn’t offer any more information about it.

ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, stated on X (formerly Twitter) on September 16th that Molly has been a vital member of the network since 2006 and played a crucial role in the success of *First Take* over the past ten years as its host.

He added that she made the show better with her grace, talent, and dedication, and was a supportive and positive colleague. They respect her decision to leave, wish her well, and are grateful for her consistent hard work for sports fans and ESPN.

Molly’s decision to leave also saddened her *First Take* colleague, Stephen A. Smith.

After Molly announced her news, he shared on his YouTube channel that she’s both a friend and a colleague. He explained they’ve supported each other through the years, and have worked together as partners on the show for the last decade.

The 57-year-old said the news of her leaving was unexpected and that he didn’t know she was thinking about it.

He explained that she’d ultimately decided to leave, and they needed to accept that and continue the show. He admitted he was upset about it, saying he valued her contributions not just to him personally, but to the show, the network, and the entertainment industry as a whole, and that he would really miss her.

For more celebs who made surprising exits from their hit shows, keep reading.

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After sharing seven summers with you all, I’m so thankful for the fun memories, the supportive community, and all the amazing experiences this journey has given me,” the Giggly Squad podcast host posted on Instagram. “But now it’s time to move on to new things, just as all good stories eventually come to an end.”

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Before the third season of *The Sex Lives of College Girls* begins, Reneé Rapp has announced she will be departing the Max series.

She shared on social media in July 2023 that the show *College Girls* led to her moving to Los Angeles and meeting many of her closest friends. She added that after two and a half years, it’s also brought her a wonderful community of fans like you.

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In February 2023, Ellen Pompeo finished her run as Meredith Grey on the ABC drama after playing the character for 19 years.

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2025-09-17 00:50