More than five years have passed since Michael Smith departed ESPN after a 15-year tenure with the network. Now, it seems he may be on the verge of returning to Bristol. According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, the former SportsCenter host has engaged in “exploratory talks” with ESPN regarding a possible comeback, likely in a role related to SportsCenter or the company’s news division.
Smith’s potential return comes five years after his initial departure in 2019. After co-hosting SportsCenter — known as SC6 or The Six — alongside Jemele Hill from February 2017 to March 2018, ESPN discontinued the personality-focused version of the show, with Hill opting for a buyout in August 2018. Smith followed suit two months later, later co-founding a multimedia company called Inflection Point Entertainment. He then joined NBC Sports to co-host Peacock’s Brother From Another with Michael Holley until the show’s conclusion last year. Additionally, the 45-year-old New Orleans native has worked as a reporter for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts since the 2022 NFL season.
The timing of Smith’s potential return is noteworthy, particularly following the departure of former executive Norby Williamson less than a year ago, who was said to be critical of the personality-driven SC6. Since then, Hill has shared her experiences with Williamson, while Smith mentioned to Front Office Sports in 2023 that he felt “muted” by the Disney-owned company by the end of his tenure. “Somebody told me a long time ago everything ends badly; otherwise, it wouldn’t end,” he remarked. “Was it fair? No. I’m just gonna be binary about it. But life ain’t fair. I don’t look at it that way anymore, I appreciate the 15 years I had there.”
If a reunion between Smith and ESPN materializes, it will be intriguing to see how it unfolds, especially given Smith’s versatility as a host and reporter. McCarthy also pointed out that Around the Horn — on which Smith had previously appeared — is concluding later this year, potentially leaving a gap in ESPN’s schedule that he could fill.
