Molly Qerim has been a staple on ESPN’s ‘First Take‘ as the host. While her journey in the broadcasting world started with hosting college football shows around two decades ago, it was in 2015 when she took over as the host of the popular sports show. Since then, the 41-year-old has amassed a massive fan following from acting as the moderator alongside long-time analyst Stephen A. Smith and several others. However, after giving everyone, including us, countless memories over the years, fan-favorite Qerim has decided to call it quits.

The ESPN personality announced this news through her Instagram on Monday after she posted an emotional resignation on her story. She addressed the rumors that suggested that Molly Qerim declined an extension with ESPN and would leave at the end of the year. In her long message, the 41-year-old expressed how “grateful” she was for this incredible opportunity. However, that’s not all. Qerim also gave her fans and followers a hint about her future as she concluded her statement by writing “stay tuned.”

Although it’s unclear what her next move will be after leaving ESPN, it’s safe to assume that she’ll soon be making an announcement about her next job or project. However, amid this, ESPN has finally broken its silence with the President of Content at ESPN, Burke Magnus, giving an official announcement on Qerim’s surprising resignation. He not only respected Qerim’s decision to leave the company but also lauded her professionalism and skill set before thanking her for her valuable contribution over the years.

“Molly has been an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and a key driver of First Take’s success since joining as host a decade ago. She elevated the show with her poise, skill, and professionalism, while supporting others as a kind and encouraging teammate. We respect Molly’s decision, wish her the best in the future, and thank her for her extraordinary daily commitment to sports fans and ESPN.” This is what Magnus had to say about Qerim leaving the company.

It’s quite evident that the President of Content holds Molly Qerim in high regard through his statement. Well, why shouldn’t he, after all, the host had been one of ESPN’s top voices since joining the company back in 2006. While it’s great to hear that Qerim and ESPN have parted ways mutually and there’s no bad blood between her and the broadcasting company, one cannot help but wonder where Molly Qerim will head in her career from here, with the new NBA season just around the corner.

What’s next for Molly Qerim in the broadcasting world?

As the world wraps its head around Molly Qerim’s sudden resignation from ESPN, a few cannot help but wonder what’s next for the 41-year-old host. While the ‘First Take’ moderator has already hinted to her fans to “stay tuned,” there’s still a lot of uncertainty about Qerim’s future. Before she made her resignation public, there were rumors about ESPN offering her a contract extension, but she declined their offer. If true, it indicates that Qerim has already planned out her future.

But, where does it take her from here? While she’s yet to provide an update on her next move, with the NBA’s new broadcasting deal in place, the networks part of the massive 11-year deal have been heavily recruiting talent to feature for the upcoming 2025-26 season. We’ve already witnessed several big names joining different networks– from Michael Jordan joining NBC as a special contributor to Heat legend Dwyane Wade shaking hands with Prime Video.

So, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that one of the broadcasting giants, which includes NBC and Prime Video, apart from the company Qerim, is about to leave ESPN, would’ve approached the host. Now, there’s no telling whether Molly Qerim has decided to join a rival network, as these are mere speculations for now. For now, all we know is that the 41-year-old renowned host will be hosting her final episode of ‘First Take’ in the near future, marking an emotional end to an iconic era, as we continue to monitor her next move closely.