Skip Bayless has concluded his eight-year stint as the host of Fox Sports’ ‘Undisputed,’ doing so without any prior notice to his fans that Friday’s show would mark his final appearance.
Amid ongoing speculation regarding his departure from the network, the 72-year-old hosted the show one last time alongside co-hosts Paul Pierce and Keyshawn Johnson, taking a seemingly typical approach on Friday.
Following the broadcast, Bayless took to social media to announce that he would not be returning to ‘Undisputed,’ despite remaining silent during the live show.
‘Today was my last show on Undisputed,’ Bayless shared in a post on X. ‘I’m leaving FS1. I’ve been planning to pursue other opportunities for several months.’
‘I had a fantastic 8-year journey with many incredible people at FOX, but now I’m eager for what’s next. Stay tuned.’
Skip Bayless appeared on Fox Sports’ ‘Undisputed’ one last time without warning fans, Friday
The 72-year-old revealed his excitement ‘for what’s coming up’ later on X, adding: ‘Stay tuned’
The end of Bayless’s tenure, often hailed as ‘The Godfather of Sports Debate,’ was foreshadowed about a year prior when NFL Hall of Famer and ‘Undisputed’ co-host Shannon Sharpe exited following several heated exchanges that ended in confrontations on air.
Sharpe has since joined ESPN’s ‘First Take’ alongside Stephen A. Smith, who previously collaborated with Bayless.
Both Sharpe and Smith have expanded their platforms without Bayless.
Despite their differences, Sharpe expressed his hope for Bayless’s success in his future endeavors.
Bayless and former co-host Shannon Sharpe once had success on ‘Undisputed’ until last year
Stephen A. Smith and ESPN denied talks of a potential come back on the network for Bayless
However, viewership has declined since the three-time Super Bowl champion’s exit from ‘Undisputed.’
In March, ‘Undisputed’ recorded its lowest average audience since returning from a brief hiatus in 2023, according to Sports Media Watch.
‘I’m unsure what Skip plans to do next,’ said Sharpe. ‘I wish him all the best, but ultimately it’s not my decision. ESPN confirmed that Bayless will not be coming back to ‘First Take,’ and Stephen A. has made his position clear.’
‘At the end of the day, ESPN will make the final decision. I don’t have the authority to dictate terms on ‘First Take.’
