Shae Cornette has been selected by ESPN to step into the role of host for First Take, joining Stephen A. Smith, following the departure of Molly Qerim.

Qerim surprised fans of the widely-viewed talk show by ending her 19-year career at ESPN unexpectedly last month. This decision came sooner than anticipated, as it was initially believed she would leave at the year’s end. Her sudden exit fueled speculation about who would succeed her.

In the weeks following Qerim’s departure, ESPN tested several potential hosts, including Amina Smith, MJ Acosta, Courtney Cronin, and Joe Fortenbaugh.

However, on Thursday, Front Office Sports announced that Cornette had been chosen to fill Qerim’s shoes.

Cornette initially joined ESPN in 2020 and frequently served as a stand-in for Qerim during her absences from First Take.

Previously, Cornette was associated with the ‘Big Ten Network’ and has rapidly gained recognition as a promising talent at ESPN, known as ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’.

ESPN has chosen Shae Cornette to replace Molly Qerim as the new host of First Take

Qerim left the popular morning talk show last month after more than a decade in the hot seat 

She has worked as a host on SportsCenter and other ESPN shows – both on TV and radio. Cornette previously covered the Chicago Bears and, earlier this summer, she was forced to apologize after being pictured in a Green Bay Packers shirt at Lambeau Field.

But Cornette will now co-host First Take alongside Smith, who recently signed a new $100million contract and is among ESPN’s most prominent analysts. He is also an executive producer of the morning debate show.

Qerim, who took over as host from Cari Champion in 2015, confirmed her departure from First Take with a statement on social media. 

‘After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,’ she wrote.

‘Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate, and entertaining voices in sports — and with all of you, the best fans in the world. 

‘I’m so grateful for what this journey has given me: lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and the chance to be part of something truly special. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for welcoming me into your homes.’

A day later, long-time colleague Smith revealed that Qerim had, in fact, left ESPN altogether. The network’s President of Content, Burke Magnus, admitted that she had surprised them with the timing of her decision, but explained how they had recently failed to come to terms over a renewal.

Earlier this week, however, veteran ESPN broadcaster Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo claimed Qerim left the network because she likely felt ’embarrassed’ by her possible removal from First Take. 

Qerim, who replaced Cari Champion, confirmed her exit with a statement on social media 

 Cornette has worked as a host on SportsCenter and other ESPN shows – on TV and radio

‘I think they probably wanted to move her around a little bit and try something different,’ Russo said on the SI Media podcast this week.

‘Not that the ratings were bad, it’s just the nature of the beast. You’re on air forever, they like to make a change for making a change’s sake. I think they wanted to keep Molly with the network, and I don’t know if Molly wanted to do that. 

‘Because I think Molly probably looked at as, “If I’m not going to do First Take, I don’t want to do SportsCenter.” So she probably felt that that would be a demotion, I would assume.

‘I think she precipitated it. I think, probably, she felt embarrassed. I didn’t talk to her about the specifics of why she decided as soon as it was in the Sports Business Journal, but that’s what I’m thinking.

‘That she probably would have felt embarrassed if the world would have thought she was a lame duck and she was still doing the show.’

It comes just weeks after former ESPN star Marcellus Wiley claimed Qerim left because she was only earning $500k per year – despite First Take partner Smith raking in almost 40 times as much.

According to Wiley, who previously co-hosted the show ‘SportsNation’ with Qerim on ESPN, his former colleague felt ‘disrespected’ by her salary given that Smith recently agreed a new $20m-a-year contract.