Maria Taylor is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable faces at ESPN, making the network’s upcoming decision an important one. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Taylor’s contract with ESPN is set to expire this summer.
Taylor joined ESPN as part of the SEC Network in 2014 and she signed her last extension with the company in 2018. A former student-athlete at the University of Georgia, Taylor quickly became known for her coverage of college sports with the Worldwide Leader, working on College GameDay and ABC Saturday Night Football. In 2019, she added NBA Countdown to her variety of roles, replacing Michelle Beadle as the show’s host.
Last September, the 33-year-old sportscaster made her first appearance as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s Monday Night Footballtelecast. Despite it being an important career milestone, Taylor was forced to respond to Chicago sports radio host Dan McNeil who criticized her outfit, saying she looked suited for an adult film awards show. McNeil was quickly fired by Entercom and soon after apologized.
Recently, ESPN has been budget conscious despite remaining talent hungry. They’ve let network staples such as Trey Wingo and Mike Golic Sr. walk, but they also gave a megadeal to Stephen A. Smith while making big plays for Tony Romo, Peyton Manning and Skip Bayless. If Taylor and ESPN decide to part ways, the rising star will have multiple suitors, especially considering the wide range of sports she’s covered.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
