Gap Between Patrick Mahomes', Stephen A. Smith's Reported Salaries Is Very Small

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 11:01 AM ET

As ESPN’s "First Take" prepares for its next phase without host Molly Qerim, a new development surrounding her now former colleague, Stephen A. Smith, has rapidly shifted how we think about sports pay.

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that Smith’s combined ESPN and SiriusXM deals guarantee him $33 million per year, with ancillary ventures pushing his haul toward $40 million annually.

Smith’s five-year, $105 million extension with ESPN carries a $20 million per year base, placing him among the network’s top earners, while his three-year, $36 million pact with SiriusXM for "The Stephen A. Smith Show" tacks on roughly $12 million annually.

Add in YouTube ad revenue and podcast royalties, and Smith’s total compensation creeps close to $40 million each season.

For context, Kansas City Chiefs' superstar Patrick Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the NFL right now, has an annual salary of just $45 million, making him one of the league's top-paid players, yet only $5 million more than what Smith is earning.

NEWS COLUMN: Stephen A. Smith makes $33M per year between his ESPN & SiriusXM deals with the potential to make $40M per, The Athletic has learned.

Next stop: Trying to be as influential in politics as he is in sports.https://t.co/5SJoacYgI1
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) September 17, 2025

Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020, yet with the quarterback market exploding in the past few years, he isn't even in the top 10 in terms of Average Annual Value (AAV).

Dak Prescott leads all QBs at $60 million per year, followed by Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love at $55 million apiece. Tua Tagovailoa ($53.1 million), Jared Goff and Brock Purdy ($53 million each), Justin Herbert ($52.5 million) and Lamar Jackson ($52 million) round out the top ten by AAV.

As leagues sell media rights in the tens of billions and digital platforms vie for exclusive clips, the value of a compelling personality like Smith has never been higher and this latest development shows it.

Smith isn’t alone at the summit of sports media pay either. Fox Sports’ Tom Brady tops all broadcasters at $37.5 million per year, while Charles Barkley, fresh from a $210 million TNT deal, pulls $21 million annually, with Smith sitting just behind these two in terms of annual earnings.

Former NFL play-callers Tony Romo and Troy Aikman also rank near the top, with each commanding about $18 million for their CBS and ESPN booth work, while Pat McAfee is reportedly bringing in $17 million per year after signing a five-year, $85 million deal with ESPN in 2023.

Al Michaels ($15 million per year), Shaquille O'Neal ($15 million per year), Joe Buck ($12-15 million per year) and Cris Collinsworth ($12.5 million per year) round out the top 10.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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