Report: Stephen A Smith closing in on historic $120M ESPN contract extension

ESPN and Stephen A Smith are in negotiations on a lucrative six-year deal in the $120 million range, per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.

While the two sides are in discussions on a contract, Smith said “false” when asked by Marchand if the deal was close to completion. Smith followed up with a statement about his negotiations with ESPN.

“Here’s my quote, ‘I was born AT NIGHT, not last night,” Smith said over text. “I don’t talk about my contract negotiations. Never have. Never will.”

Stephen A Smith in line to become ESPN’s highest-paid on-air talent

Smith, 57, first started contributing to ESPN in 2003 as an analyst for the network’s “NBA Shootaround” (now “NBA Countdown”) pregame show. Smtih has since become ESPN‘s most prominent on-air talent, serving as commentator and executive producer for “First Take,” of which he’s been a full-time contributor on since 2012.

“If consummated, the contract will mostly be paid by ESPN but will have small components from Disney Entertainment and a gambling company, presumably ESPN BET, the network’s sports gambling arm,” Marchand wrote.

Smith is currently making $12 million annually at ESPN — $8 million in salary and $4 million for his production company. The $20 million figure would make Smith the highest-paid on-air personality in the network’s history. “Monday Night Football” boothmates Troy Aikman ($18 million per year) and Joe Buck ($15 million per year) make the most pure salary of anyone at ESPN, Marchand noted. Pat McAfee, meanwhile, earns more than $17 million a year from ESPN to license his daily show.

John Ourand of Puck News reported in June that ESPN‘s initial offer to Smith was $90 million across five years ($18 million annually). Smith, however, was reportedly looking for $25 million a year.

Smith’s current deal expires in 2025.