Stephen A. Smith’s new five-year contract worth $100 million has been confirmed, solidifying his position as a key figure in ESPN’s programming. The deal, which was finalized in October, includes significant pay increases and changes to his on-air schedule.
Smith had reportedly been engaged in discussions about politics with ESPN executives, which were later incorporated into the new contract. This decision aims to give Smith more creative control while scaling back other appearances on the network.
The agreement includes a reduction in Smith’s duties for ESPN’s NBA pregame show “Countdown,” allowing him to focus more on politics and other topics. The contract marks a 66% pay increase from his previous deal, which was reportedly $12 million per year.
ESPN declined comment on the agreement, but sources suggest that the network is looking to re-evaluate its programming approach ahead of its upcoming streaming service launch.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/03/stephen-a-smith-100-million-espn-deal-1236313314