After prying Skip Bayless away from ESPN with a four-year, $24 million deal in 2016, FOX Sports was apparently very happy with the return, giving the Undisputed co-host a raise on his second contract.
According to Andrew Marchand of The New York Post, Bayless’ second contract is a four-year, $32 million deal, a 33% increase. As part of the new deal with FOX, Bayless will continue his daily morning show alongside Shannon Sharpe on FS1, with plans to potentially launch a new solo project in afternoons for the network. But FOX Sports wasn’t the lone bidder for his services, as ESPN was pushing for a reunion with Bayless as recently as late last year.
Marchand reports The Worldwide Leader made Bayless a contract offer worth up to $31 million, eyeing to pair him with Stephen A. Smith again. The reunion would not have been on First Take, instead creating a new venture to help bolster their subscription platform ESPN+.
ESPN even considered a deal that would split Bayless with FS1, allowing him to continue his role on Undisputed and work an afternoon show with Smith. Although rare, the networks similarly share Alex Rodriguez who works in the booth for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseballand as an MLB studio analyst for FOX. But Bayless’ new deal with FOX will keep him there exclusively for now.
Since Bayless left First Take and ESPN in 2016, he’s remained close with Smith. In a recent interview with USA Today, Smith acknowledged, “the hope is that one day we’ll reunite in some capacity.” Skip’s new contract with FS1 will take him to age 73, but he’s said he doesn’t want this to be the final deal of his sportscasting career, meaning there’s still time for a future reunion with Smith.