Molly Qerim is back in the spotlight.

After spending the last four months out of the spotlight, former ESPN talent Molly Qerim has landed a new media gig.

In a surprise development, Molly Qerim announced her departure from ESPN in September. She spent 10 years as the host of “First Take”, working alongside Stephen A. Smith and other notable talents.

Now, we know what’s next for Qerim. And her next gig will include a reunion with another notable former ESPN personality, who also worked on “First Take” with Smith.

According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, Qerim has been hired as the new host of Zuffa Boxing. The new boxing promotion was founded by UFC president Dana White and General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Al-Sheikh.

More from Glasspiegel:

“Qerim is slated to be the host for Zuffa Boxing, Front Office Sports has learned. Zuffa has its first event Friday at the META Apex in Las Vegas, airing on Paramount+.

Qerim will be hosting the desk with former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, insider Mike Coppinger, and longtime boxing reporter Mark Kriegel. The announce team is composed of Joe Tessitore, Max Kellerman, and former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Andre Ward. Heidi Androl, who works with UFC and NHL Network, is the ringside reporter.”

After her departure, it was reported that Qerim wanted her own show from the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Qerim reportedly would have stayed at “First Take” with a raise, but the company apparently didn’t offer one.

Molly Qerim Joins Long List Of Recent ESPN Departures

Molly Qerim (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
The Worldwide Leader in Sports conducted a stunning number of layoffs in 2023. This included the aforementioned Max Kellerman, legendary reporter Suzy Kolber, Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young, ex-NBA star Jalen Rose and former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Disney laid off several other popular on-air talents, including Jeff Van Gundy, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Chelios, Joon Lee, and Todd McShay. In February of that year, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the company would cut 7,000 jobs to reduce costs.

Since 2024, Michele Steele, Zach Lowe, Elle Duncan and Molly Qerim have headed a long list of other talents to leave ESPN.

For what it’s worth, the ‘Monday Night Football’ announe team of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck signed five-year deals in 2022. They’ll be up for new contracts in 2026, unless ESPN decides their lucrative salaries are too much to continue paying.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.