Stephen A. Smith has been the face of ESPN for several years now.

The New York native is armed with a rumored $100 million contract, one of the most popular shows at the network in “First Take,” various appearances on NBA and NFL programming, his own YouTube channel and more.

But it hasn’t always been like that for Smith.

In fact, Smith once had to threaten to quit “First Take” in order to get what he wanted from the show. ESPN eventually agreed to Smith’s request and made a massive change to the program.

That decision is now making headlines again.

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 14: Stephen A. Smith looks on during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks during Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 14, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jim Cowsert/NBAE via Getty Images) Jim Cowsert/Getty Images

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman is back in the news cycle this week, not for anything he did, but rather, what he’s not doing. And that’s appearing on the air.

Kellerman’s old show, “Around the Horn,” aired its final episode on Friday, May 23. Kellerman, who worked at ESPN on and off for about two decades, was the host of “Around the Horn” when it launched in 2002. However, he was eventually replaced by Tony Reali, who’s steered the daily sports debate show for two-plus decades.

But in the wake of “Around the Horn” ending, fans have been wondering – what’s up with Kellerman?

Max Kellerman. ESPN.

Kellerman, essentially, has been paid by ESPN to not work. He had various roles on “First Take,” “This Just In,” ESPN Radio and more. But for the past 18 or so months, he’s been paid roughly $5 million by the Worldwide Leader in Sports to not work.

“[Max is] on ice, as they say,” his good friend, Brian Kenny, told Awful Announcing’s podcast. “He texted me because I reached out to him after that happened. I said, ‘That’s awful.’ And he said, ‘Hey, look, I’ll get paid for doing nothing. Best job I’ve ever had.’ It’s so strange in this era of corporate layoffs that they lay you off, and you can’t work, but they’ll pay you. You can’t do anything while they’re paying you.”

You could argue that Kellerman’s demise at ESPN started when Stephen A. Smith made it clear how he felt about him on “First Take.”

Smith once went to ESPN and demanded that they removed Kellerman from “First Take.” He threatened to quit the show if they didn’t.

“I walked upstairs and said, ‘If is so important to [keep Max on], then give him First Take. I will leave. Two hours later, I got the call he was being removed,” Smith said.

ESPN agreed to Smith’s request, too.

Kellerman was ousted from “First Take” in the summer of 2021. Less than five years later, he’s nowhere to be found in the world of sports media.