Jemele Hill will receive $6.25 million to walk away from ESPN this month. That isn’t what the network wanted according to Andrew Marchand. Despite public perception that Hill was persona non grata at ESPN, Marchand reports in The New York Post that ESPN offered her a number of different options hoping one would intrigue her enough to stay.
The first idea that was floated was that Jemele Hill become the permanent co-host of Highly Questionable. Dan Le Batard and Gonzalo “Papi” Le Batard have never permanently replaced Bomani Jones since he left the show in June of 2017. Hill has filled that role multiple times and has a good relationship with Dan. Hill passed.
ESPN also offered Jemele Hill a permanent role on SportsNation. Marchand did not indicate what the role was, but SportsNation was recently cancelled, so Hill probably did the smart thing in turning it down.
Another option floated to Hill was increasing her role with The Undefeated. According to Marchand, ESPN wanted to not only allow Hill to work on more prominent stories, but also use her as a part of Undefeated branded programming on ESPN+.
Hill’s final day was originally reported to be last Friday. ESPN has extended that a bit, although in all likelihood she will not be seen on the air very much. Her previously recorded interview with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to be her final appearance on ESPN. Her final day of employment will be September 15.
