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After eight years with Fox Sports, Skip Bayless is expected to bid adieu to the network and his “Undisputed” audience on Friday.
“I was given information that (Friday) will be Skip Bayless’s last day on FS1,” Marcellus Wiley, who previously worked at the network, said on his podcast Thursday.
The Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel first reported that Bayless’ Fox Sports days were numbered.
Neither the 72-year-old nor Fox Sports have discussed his seemingly imminent departure since the bombshell report was released on July 15, something Wiley says is by design.
“What’s interesting about this departure is, other than the news, the headlines, how anti-climactic it is in terms of nothing publicly has been said by Skip Bayless,” the ex-NFLer said. “Nothing making headlines. And frankly, internally, a lot of people in the building are saying, ‘We’re not talking about it either.’ Maybe that’s by design, or maybe that’s by residue.”
The beginning of the end for Bayless seemingly began one year ago when NFL Hall of Fame tight end and “Undisputed” sparring partner Shannon Sharpe departed from the show after a couple of contentious debates led to heated exchanges.
Sharpe has since moved on to ESPN’s “First Take” alongside fellow ex-Bayless co-host Stephen A. Smith, both of whom have seen their platforms grow without him.
Sharpe said that he wants to see Bayless succeed without him, but ratings have slumped since his departure from “Undisputed.”
In March, the show averaged its smallest audience since its return from its 2023 hiatus, per Sports Media Watch.
“I don’t know what Skip’s going to do,” Sharpe said. “I wish him the best, but I don’t make the call. ESPN [issued a statement saying Bayless wouldn’t be on ‘First Take’] and Stephen A. said what he said. But at the end of the day, ESPN’s going to make a call. Shannon don’t call the shots at ‘First Take’.”
