Skip Bayless Returns to ESPN for Recurring First Take Appearances with Stephen A. Smith
Skip Bayless is officially returning to ESPN. The veteran sports commentator will join Stephen A. Smith for recurring appearances on First Take beginning this month, marking a notable reunion a decade after Bayless left the network.
Announcement Made on SiriusXM Radio
Smith revealed the news Friday afternoon during his SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show, with Bayless appearing as a guest. The duo outlined a two-pronged schedule: Bayless will join Smith every Friday on the radio program, and on the last Friday of each month on First Take.
“Let me alert the public to what’s going on,” Smith began. “On Fridays, yours truly and the one and only Skip Bayless will be joining me on this show. So, let’s get that out the way. That’s every Friday, the beatdown is coming, my condolences to you. But the other part that everybody needs to know, starting next week, the last Friday of every single month, Skip Bayless will join yours truly on First Take. You are back, my brother.”
Building on a Successful Reunion
The agreement follows a one-day reunion on First Take earlier this year. That appearance evidently resonated with Bayless, who described it as the “most fun” he had experienced in a long time and expressed enthusiasm about making the partnership regular.
“I am personally highly entertained by getting to sit across from you,” Bayless told Smith. “You are a one and an only, and I do believe what you and I had, and will have, is a one and an only.”
Strategic Fit for ESPN and Bayless
The move mirrors the trajectory of Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, whose guest spots on First Take evolved into a weekly role. Mutual interest in extending last May’s reunion was clear, and the dynamic became even more logical after Smith lost co-panelists Cam Newton and Ryan Clark to summer layoffs. The final hurdle—structuring a contract agreeable to Bayless and ESPN—has now been cleared.
Bayless, once the central figure of First Take, will now occupy a reduced role and salary on the program he helped establish. However, the arrangement offers significant promotional value. Bayless recently relaunched his digital show Gridiron with Aqib Talib following a split with Underdog, and the ESPN platform provides a powerful vehicle to drive attention to that venture.
Calculated Exposure to Sustain Interest
The May reunion revisited familiar debates surrounding Tim Tebow, the Dallas Cowboys, and LeBron James. While daily appearances might dilute the novelty, the limited cadence—once a week on radio and once a month on television—is calibrated to generate viral moments and headlines without overexposing the pair’s signature confrontational style.
