ESPN and Stephen A. Smith are in negotiations on a historic deal that is in the six-year, $120 million range, sources briefed on the negotiations told The Athletic.
The near $20 million per year contract is not yet completed. While Variety reported that a deal was close to fruition, one very important figure appears unsatisfied where things stand.
That person is Stephen A. Smith.
When asked over text if a deal is close, Smith simply responded, “False.” After a brief back-and-forth about the particulars, Smith added, “Here’s my quote, ‘I was born AT NIGHT, not last night. I don’t talk about my contract negotiations. Never have. Never will.”
The $20 million a year would be the most ever paid to an ESPN on-air personality without it being tied to a licensing deal. ESPN’s initial offer was for $18 million per year, which Puck first reported. The two sides have also discussed both five- and six-year options for the potential length of the contract, according to sources briefed on the talks.
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.
ESPN declined comment.
Smith, 57, is currently making $12 million a year at ESPN, which is divided up between $8 million in salary and $4 million for his production company. He also currently has multimillion separate sports gambling deals.
The entertainment component will allow Disney to have a first-look for any projects that may develop.
Pat McAfee currently makes more than $17 million per year for ESPN to license his daily show. He pays all the people on his program. He also is believed to make a separate fee for “College GameDay.” “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.
Tom Brady has the highest known salary at $37.5 million per season to call NFL games for Fox. Peyton Manning’s exact pay from ESPN is tied into his production company, Omaha Productions, and is believed to be in a similar range as Brady.
Now, Smith could be a $20 million a year man, but it is apparently up to him.
(Photo: Justin Ford / Getty Images)
