Maria Taylor Discusses Her Contentious Exit from ESPN

Maria Taylor made her first appearance on ESPN television since leaving the organization in 2021 on Monday night during Monday Night Football on ESPN2’s ManningCast.

Later, the NBC Sports host turned to TikTok to talk about the circumstances behind her departure and the lessons she had taken away from the entire ordeal. During a “get ready with me (GRWM)” video, Taylor stated: “So (Monday) night I was on my former employer’s network, let’s talk about it,”

“I worked for 10 years at ESPN and loved my time there, but the ending came a little tumultuously. And to be honest, if you went and looked up my dream job when I was a junior playing volleyball at the University of Georgia… it said ESPN reporter.

“But then came a time when I had the opportunity to really decide what I wanted to for my life moving forward and if where I was was the best place for me, and as we all know… it’s hard to go through change.”

Maria Taylor talks about why the exit was a blessing in disguise

Taylor, who worked for ESPN from 2013 to 2021, stated that some of her closest friends are still employed there. The NBA Countdown host reportedly left the organization in 2021 instead of signing an extension when contract discussions with ESPN fell down after leaked recordings showed that her former coworker Rachel Nichols had made derogatory remarks about her. Soon after, she joined NBC Sports.

She saiid : “I knew in my heart of hearts that it was time,”. “Well.. I honestly just needed more opportunities to spend time with my family to start a family and at the level I was going and the work that I was doing, I didn’t think I would have the time. And I still wanted to work at a very high level, but I just wanted to focus on very important quality events.”

I also felt like the relationship had ran its course. Yeah.. And it’s so funny because when I was making my final decision, someone was making the case that ‘well if you leave here then you’ll never ever be on television again — like no one will ever see you again.’ Then I remember being like, ‘The ways in which I don’t care whether or not anyone ever sees me again’ — as long as I see checks clearing into my bank account. And at that moment I knew I was onto something else.

“Well to be honest, I also kind of felt like it was just time for a brand new challenge. I was getting a little worn out of the same things, and I just wanted to try something new.”

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