Molly Qerim's sudden departure from ESPN last month left the network scrambling to find a replacement. Since Qerim left in mid-September ESPN has been holding "tryouts" for the host of First Take, with multiple new and familiar faces rotating in next to Stephen A. Smith and his crew of personalities. It's a big decision given it's ESPN's most popular studio show and the most-talked about debate show in sports media.
On Thursday, the network made the call and named Qerim's replacement: Shae Cornette. ESPN confirmed to Ryan Glassipegel and Mike McCarthy of Front Office Sports that Cornette would be the host of First Take alongside Smith.
Per ESPN's website, Cornette is currently a host of various network studio shows, including SportsCenter. She joined ESPN in 2020 after building her profile in Chicago covering the Bears for Fox 32 and co-hosted Kap & Co. on ESPN 1000. This will be her most visible role yet at the network.
Qerim has not yet revealed where she plans to take her career after over 10 years behind the First Take desk. Most recently she hosted a Q&A with UConn coach Dan Hurley to promote his new book.
It is a officially a new era of First Take.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ESPN Names Official Replacement for Molly Qerim on ‘First Take’.