2024-07-16 13:05:02
Steve Zak Photography/FilmMagic
One year after Shannon Sharpe departed FS1’s Undisputed, longtime co-host Skip Bayless is reportedly on his way out, too.
According to Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, Bayless is leaving his role at Undisputed after eight years, and his final show is set for later this summer.
Sharpe departed Undisputed after the 2023 NBA Finals to join ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith. Glasspiegel noted that Fox Sports PR declined to comment on Bayless’ impending exit.
After Sharpe left Undisputed, the show took a brief hiatus last summer before returning with a new format that saw Bayless acting as both moderator and panelist in debates alongside panelists such as Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, Rachel Nichols and Paul Pierce. The new iteration of the show failed to capture audiences the same way Bayless and Sharpe did during their seven-year tenure together.
To make matters worse, Undisputed’s ratings suffered following the move of First Things First from early mornings to mid-afternoon directly after The Herd. Glasspiegel pointed out that “Craig Carton’s lead-in show has not yet reached the metrics” that First Things First brought as the lead-in for Undisputed.
Prior to joining FS1, Bayless worked at ESPN for 12 years and starred opposite Smith on First Take before Smith’s departure in 2016. In 2021, he reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $32 million with FS1.
FS1 could soon be on the verge of losing another key personality. Glasspiegel noted that Colin Cowherd’s deal will expire following the 2024 football season.
