Why did Max Kellerman leave ESPN’s First Take? Net Worth, Wife

 

Who is Max Kellerman?

Max Kellerman is a well-known sports television personality and commentator, particularly for his work on ESPN, especially the show “First Take”, while he currently hosts “This Just In with Max Kellerman”.

Why Did Max Kellerman Leave “First Take”?

Kellerman left the “First Take” because the ratings started to drop heavily, and he and Stephen A. Smith needed a change. Since leaving the show he’s started a new one, and is working on several other projects.

Max Kellerman Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Max Kellerman was born on 6 August 1973, in New York City, USA, the son of Henry Kellerman, a renowned psychiatrist and amateur fighter, and Linda Kellerman, a housewife. He had three younger brothers, including Sam Kellerman, a writer, who was murdered by his friend and roommate, ex-boxer James Butler.

He attended New York City’s PS 41 in Greenwich Village, then Hunter College High School, from which he matriculated in 1990. After high school, he enrolled at Columbia University, from which he graduated with a degree in history.

Career Beginnings

During his teenage years, Max Kellerman began his broadcasting career as the host of a public-access television program in New York City, that focused on professional boxing. The show, called “Max on Boxing,” was basic in nature due to the limited resources available for public-access programming. Despite its simplicity, the program gained recognition within the boxing community, and even caught the attention of a young Mike Tyson.

After graduating, Kellerman was hired by ESPN as an analyst for their boxing series, “Friday Night Fights,” where he met Brian Kenny, his future radio partner., Kellerman was given his own show on ESPN in November 2002, which was inspired by the format of “Pardon the Interruption.” The show was called “Around the Horn,” and Kellerman served as its original host and creator; the show quickly became popular with viewers, but Kellerman and ESPN couldn’t come to terms on a contract renewal, and Kellerman left the network in early 2004.

Kellerman then went on to host a new show on Fox Sports Net, called “I, Max,” on which he discussed sports news with Michael Holley (a former panelist on “Around the Horn”) and Bill Wolff.

Success at HBO

Kellerman was also a successful boxing commentator for HBO Sports. He began working with HBO in 2005, providing expert analysis and commentary for their boxing matches, becoming known for his deep knowledge of the sport, and his ability to break down the intricacies of each fight, making him a favorite among boxing fans.

Kellerman’s work with HBO allowed him to cover some of the biggest fights in boxing history, including Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao, and the trilogy between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. He was also a co-host of HBO’s “Boxing After Dark,” a program that showcased up-and-coming fighters in the sport.

Other Projects, ESPN

After serving as a contributor to MSNBC, in May 2010, Max Kellerman was hired by CNN to provide commentary on sports and pop culture issues for their morning program, “CNN American Morning”, as well as other programs on the network.

Later that year, in December Kellerman was announced as the new midday host at ESPNLA 710, where he would co-host with former National Football League (NFL) player Marcellus Wiley. This appointment came as a replacement for the previous show, “LA Sports Live”, which was hosted by Andrew Siciliano and former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Mychal Thompson. Kellerman was hired by program director Mike Thompson (no relation to Mychal Thompson), who had worked with Kellerman at WEPN.

Max Kellerman’s success on ESPN continued when he joined the network’s daily debate show, “First Take,” in 2016. Kellerman replaced Skip Bayless as the show’s co-host alongside Stephen A. Smith, and the chemistry between the two hosts quickly became a hit with viewers. He wasn’t afraid to take controversial positions, often disagreeing with Smith and the show’s guests.

In addition to his work on “First Take,” Kellerman has continued to cover boxing for ESPN, providing expert commentary and analysis for the network’s biggest fights. He has also appeared on other ESPN shows, including “Top Rank Boxing on ESPN”.

To speak further of his accomplishments, after leaving “First Take”, Max has launched another show, “This Just In”, in which he discusses trending sports headlines and news with several ESPN sports insiders and analysts, including Matt Barnes and Tim Legler.

Furthermore, he is joined by former athletes Keyshawn Johnson and Jay Williams to discuss the biggest sports stories of the day in the show “Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin”.

Net Worth

According to authoritative sources, Max Kellerman’s net worth is estimated at $6 million, as of mid-2023.

Personal Life, Dating, Marriage, Wife, Children

When it comes to his personal life, Max is a married man and a father. He met his future wife, Erin Manning, in high school, the two started dating when in college, and married in 1994; they now have three children.

Wife tells me to get flowers for our daughters on way from home work. Get home w/flowers, realize didn’t get any for wife#valentinesdayfail

— Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) February 15, 2014

Erin also works for ESPN, as a producer, working on a number of popular shows, including “Sports Nation” and “First Take”, among many others. She’s also a social activist, advocate, and social media personality, has addressed environmental issues and animal rights and is an advocate for mental health awareness.

Max is of Jewish ancestry and is fluent in Yiddish. Together with his late brother Sam, Max started a rap duo simply called Max and Sam. They even signed a deal with Columbia Records, and released the music video, “Young Man Rumble,” in 1994.

He;s recognized for his scar on the left side of his mouth, the result of a  childhood accident with an electrical outlet.

Max is a sports enthusiast who supports New York Yankees and New York Giants.

Appearance and Body Measurements

Max Kellerman has light brown hair and blue eyes. He stands at the height of 5ft 10ins (1.78m), while he weighs approximately 155lbs (70kgs). His vital statistics are unknown, but he has an average figure.