Just two days after leaving ESPN over a contract dispute, Maria Taylor has taken her talents to NBC Sports.
via: Deadline
NBC Olympics mainstay Mike Tirico introduced Taylor, whom he called a new member of “our NBC Sports and NBC Olympic family,” on Friday during coverage of the Opening Ceremony. He then followed with, “Maria, Welcome to Tokyo and the team.” Taylor posted the moment on her personal Twitter account.
Olympic dream come true ??@nbc #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Qlcoz8rBVh
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) July 24, 2021
NBC in a release said Taylor would be a host for the Olympics and NFL games, including Football Night in America and Super Bowls, and will work across the NBC Sports properties. In Tokyo, she will joins Tirico as host for Prime Plus, and will also serve as a correspondent, according to the network.
“Maria has excelled in a wide range of roles at marquee events, and will be a powerful addition to our team. We are always looking to improve, and Maria is going to make us better. We are very excited for her to join us right away in Tokyo,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.
“Incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with Pete, Molly, Sam, Fred, and the entire NBC Sports family,” said Taylor. “Literally, hosting the Olympics, Football Night in America, and the Super Bowl is what I dreamed of when I started in television – and this would not be possible without standing on the shoulders of all of those who came before me and made this path possible. And I plan to pay it forward.”
Taylor’s exit from ESPN came after turmoil caused by a leak of year-old remarks by the network’s Rachel Nichols, who also covers the NBA. Nichols apologized to Taylor publicly, but the tumult created a difficult situation for the network just before the NBA Finals.
Taylor and ESPN said in a joint statement Wednesday that they could not come to terms on a contract extension and that Taylor was exiting. Her final assignment was covering the deciding Game 6 of the NBA Finals won by the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBC Sports better do right by Maria.
