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Despite the setback, Smith turned it around quickly, returning to the sports landscape just ten months later with Fox Sports, albeit with a significantly reduced salary. This experience allowed him to reflect on his previous approaches, honing his focus on finding solutions rather than merely presenting problems.
After a brief stint at Fox, he returned to ESPN in 2011, where he would solidify his role as one of the network’s most important personalities. Smith became the host of First Take and soon took on executive producer duties, overseeing a show that has managed to capture audiences year after year, averaging over half a million viewers per episode.