A look back at Maria Taylor’s career as she debuts for NBC Sports at Tokyo Olympics
A debut for the Peacock
Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for IMG)
To the surprise of almost no one, NBC has added a new talent to its sports broadcast roster: Maria Taylor. She was seen Tuesday night in Milwaukee working for ESPN as the Bucks clinched the NBA championship. That ended her run at the Worldwide Leader, and now she has debuted in Tokyo for the Peacock network. Ahead of her Olympics debut, let's take a look back at her remarkable journey so far...
A volleyball star
Joshua L. Jones via Imagn Content Service
Taylor received an athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia, where she played volleyball and basketball from 2005-2009. While at Georgia she was named a member of the All-SEC volleyball team each season. She also continued to play for the U.S. Volleyball Junior National A2 team and helped them win a bronze medal during the Open Division of the U.S. Volleyball Championships.
Time with ESPN
(Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for ESPN)
Taylor had been with ESPN since 2014. She hosted “NBA Countdown” since 2019 as well as being a reporter for “College GameDay” and ABC “Saturday Night Football” since 2017.
Taylor started her career by covering the Dawgs
: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Taylor was a reporter and host for IMG College at the University of Georgia for three years. She also appeared on various studio shows including Dawg Report, SEC Men's Basketball Tonight, and SportsNite.
Her next big move came in 2014
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Taylor joined the SEC Network in 2014. She was a college football reporter with commentator Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer, and was also an analyst on other SEC telecasts including volleyball and women's basketball.
A major offer
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
In 2020 it was reported ESPN made an offer that would have placed Taylor’s salary at near $5 million, but Taylor chose not to negotiate at the time.
COVID-19 impacted negotiations
USAT
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, things changed financially across the landscape. ESPN was no different and its most recent reported offer to Taylor, 34, was a raise from $1 million to the neighborhood of $3 million, according to the New York Post.
The "Rachel Nichols" incident
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A story ran during the NBA playoffs and it exploded beyond sports media circles. Per the New York Post: a private recording of leaked comments was reported by the New York Times in which fellow NBA host/reporter Rachel Nichols alleged ESPN gave Taylor the Finals hosting job to make up for what Nichols described as the network’s “crappy longtime record on diversity.”
The impact
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nichols lost her role as sideline reporter for the NBA Finals. Malika Andrews replaced her and received rave reviews. Taylor, meanwhile, continued in her prominent role as host.
Contract extension
USAT
Taylor's deal with ESPN expired during the NBA Finals, which ended July 20, but could have extended as long as July 22 had they gone seven games. The network and Taylor came to a short extension, per reports, and she finished out the series.
What does the future hold?
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
NBC apparently has huge plans for Taylor. She could become the host of “Football Night in America,” when Mike Tirico moves to the full-time “Sunday Night Football” play-by-play position in the fall of 2022. Taylor could also have a role on Notre Dame football this season. Before all of that, however, we'll get to enjoy her at the Tokyo Olympics.
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