The final shoe has dropped in the negotiations between ESPN and Maria Taylor. The network announced that Taylor has moved on from ESPN after the two sides failed to reach a contract agreement.
ESPN announced that the Bucks series-clinching victory over the Suns was Taylor’s last assignment.
“Maria’s remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.”
This breakup has been publicly brewing for weeks after leaks began getting out that Maria Taylor wanted “Stephen A. Smith money,” but ESPN was unwilling to go that high. Reported offers reached as large as $3 million per year. Taylor made $1 million per year on her now-expired ESPN deal.
“So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, College GameDay, Women’s and Men’s college basketball, and the NBA Countdown family — the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up. Words are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud,” Taylor said in the press release.
All eyes in the sports and sports media world now shift to NBCUniversal and the Olympics. Andrew Marchand reported that NBC is targeting Taylor to be the new studio face of their sports coverage as soon as this weekend. A sensical move with Mike Tirico being the heir-apparent to Al Michaels and handling a full-slate of Notre Dame games this Fall.
NBC executives have shown a clear interest in Maria Taylor; now we wait and see if they can close on a deal with the former-ESPN star.