Maria Taylor Leaves ESPN for NBC After Rachel Nichols Controversy

Taylor's prominent role on NBC's NFL coverage came after a controversial exit from ESPN.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 5:39am

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Maria Taylor, a prominent on-air personality, left ESPN in 2021 following a breakdown in contract negotiations and a controversy involving fellow ESPN host Rachel Nichols. Nichols had implied in leaked audio that Taylor was given hosting duties for the NBA Finals because of her race. After the audio leaked, Taylor decided to leave ESPN and joined NBC two days later, where she has become a fixture on the network's NFL, NBA, and Olympics coverage.

Why it matters

The controversy surrounding Taylor's departure from ESPN highlighted ongoing issues of diversity and inclusion in sports media. Taylor's move to NBC represents a high-profile career shift and underscores the competitive nature of the industry, where top talent can command significant salaries and prominence.

The details

In the leaked audio, Nichols implied that Taylor's "NBA Countdown" was chosen as the network's pre- and post-game coverage for the 2020 NBA Finals over Nichols' "The Jump" because Taylor is Black. This came amid a year of heightened racial tensions in the US. Nichols was removed from her 2021 NBA Finals duties and later left ESPN. Taylor responded vaguely, saying she had "taken some punches" but was "still in the fight." Taylor ultimately signed a multi-year contract extension with NBC in 2025, becoming a central figure in the network's NFL, NBA, and Olympics coverage.

  • In July 2021, the audio of Nichols' conversation with Adam Mendelsohn leaked.
  • In July 2021, Taylor left ESPN and joined NBC two days later.
  • In 2025, Taylor signed a multi-year contract extension with NBC.

The players

Maria Taylor

A prominent on-air personality who left ESPN in 2021 following a controversy involving fellow ESPN host Rachel Nichols and joined NBC, where she has become a fixture on the network's NFL, NBA, and Olympics coverage.

Rachel Nichols

An ESPN host who was involved in a controversy with Maria Taylor, where Nichols implied in leaked audio that Taylor was given hosting duties for the NBA Finals because of her race.

Adam Mendelsohn

A longtime advisor for LeBron James, who was involved in the leaked call with Rachel Nichols.

NBC

The network that Maria Taylor joined in 2021 after leaving ESPN, where she has become a central figure in their NFL, NBA, and Olympics coverage.

ESPN

The network that Maria Taylor left in 2021 following a breakdown in contract negotiations and the controversy involving Rachel Nichols.

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What they’re saying

“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else.”

— Rachel Nichols

“During the dark times I always remember that I am in this position to open doors and light the path that others walk down. I've taken some punches but that just means I'm still in the fight. Remember to lift as you climb and always KEEP RISING ❤️”

— Maria Taylor

“I'm deeply, deeply sorry to my colleague Maria Taylor. I didn't mean to offend her in any way.”

— Rachel Nichols

What’s next

The details of Maria Taylor's contract extension with NBC are expected to be further revealed in the coming months as the network's coverage of major sporting events, including the NFL and Olympics, continues.

The takeaway

The controversy surrounding Maria Taylor's departure from ESPN and subsequent move to NBC highlights the ongoing challenges of diversity and inclusion in the sports media industry. Taylor's high-profile career shift underscores the competitive nature of the field, where top talent can command significant salaries and prominence.