Skip Bayless will get $32M deal from Fox as ESPN fails to reunite him with Stephen A. Smith, story says

Skip Bayless is shut to turning into the undisputed champion of contract negotiations.

He recently landed a four-year, $32 million extension from his contemporary network, FS1, after his earlier employer, ESPN, tried to reunite him with broken-down conceal companion Stephen A. Smith, the New York Submit’s Andrew Marchand reported Thursday. Sources told Marchand that Smith develop into once a “driver” in the pursuit.

MORE: Internal FS1’s pursuit of Bayless in 2016

It is not any longer obvious when Bayless, 69, agreed to the contemporary deal. He develop into once nearing the tip of his contract final summer with Fox Sports actions, which lured him away from ESPN in 2016 with a four-year, $24 million contract to begin his dangle conceal, “Undefeated,” on FS1. Bayless, Legit Soccer Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and Jenny Taft co-host the weekday morning conceal.

Marchand reported that ESPN would enjoy created a everyday Bayless-Smith conceal on its ESPN+ streaming provider. The duo would enjoy additionally appeared on ESPN properties reminiscent of halftime of “Monday Night Soccer” telecasts to tainted-promote ESPN+. 

Fox Sports actions also can give Bayless a solo conceal in the afternoons on FS1 as fraction of his contemporary deal, sources told Marchand, even supposing it is no longer obvious whether or no longer Bayless would make two reveals or one going forward.

Bayless and Smith grew to develop into cable sports discuss superstars with their polarizing work on “First Seize.” Smith remains the host of “First Seize,” now working with Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim weekdays. Marchand reported in November 2019 that Smith signed a five-year extension price about $8 million a year to live at ESPN.