Maria Taylor Reportedly Close To Taking NBC Job Despite ESPN Upping The Ante

ESPN reporter Maria Taylor has been in the news a lot recently after colleague Rachel Nichols claimed the network was only giving Taylor big assignments because of her race.

But Taylor has another story going on, she might be leaving EPN for another network.

It was recently reported that Taylor was asking ESPN for “Stephen A. Smith money” with her contract expiring at the end of the year.

ESPN is unlikely to grant that wish, but they reportedly offered Maria Taylor a whopping $3 Million contract in order to keep her on board.

ESPN has a contract on the table for Maria Taylor in the neighborhood of $3 million per year, per @AndrewMarchand pic.twitter.com/nM3u37zvvk

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) July 10, 2021

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Despite ESPN’s efforts to retain Maria Taylor, it is now being reported that she is close to signing on with NBC Sports.

BREAKING: ESPN’s Maria Taylor is nearing a possible deal with rival NBC Sports, sources tell @MMcCarthyREV ⬇️https://t.co/l8jnheTlbl

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 14, 2021

It’s obviously unclear if any of the drama with Rachel Nichols weighs in to Maria Taylor’s decision to leave ESPN. But it does seem like she has been plotting her next move for some time now.

At NBC, Maria Taylor would likely host “Football Night In America” with Mike Tirico transitioning to a play-by-play role in place of Al Michaels.

While Maria Taylor hasn’t announced her plans yet, it certainly would appear that she has one foot out the door of ESPN.

In that case, the network would be losing yet another good one.

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