Stephen A. Smith Negotiating $120M Deal With ESPN & Disney
Stephen A. Smith – Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
New rumors suggest Stephen A. Smith is finalizing a whopping $120M new deal with ESPN and Disney.
Stephen A. Smith is almost as recognizable as the ESPN logo, making him the network’s unofficial face. Throughout the year, questions have loomed about his future with ESPN, and he recently publicly shared that he is seeking around $100M to renew his contract.
After boldly naming his price, SAS even assured everyone that he “knows his worth,” knowing that ESPN executives would hear his message loud and clear.
According to the New York Times’ The Athletic, Smith is nearing a historic $20M per year deal, but despite that, he denied the deal rumors to the publication.
“False,” he told The Athletic via text. 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.”
Nothing will ruin negotiations like discussing the deal before you sign the paperwork, so we’re presuming that’s why Smith’s denying the rumors.
The only thing that seems certain is the deal will be somewhere near $100M.
Get paid, Stephen A, get paid.