Over a year after Shannon Sharpe’s departure from FS1’s Undisputed, his former co-host Skip Bayless has finally opened up about how the split affected him, revealing that he was blindsided by Sharpe’s decision to leave the show. In June 2023, Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, ended his seven-year stint on Undisputed and transitioned to ESPN’s First Take, where he now works alongside Bayless’ former partner, Stephen A. Smith.
During an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Bayless shared his thoughts on Sharpe’s exit and the lingering effects it had on him, admitting that he had no knowledge of the internal issues between Sharpe and FS1 that led to the separation. He also touched on the on-air tension between them, which had become more apparent to viewers in the final months of their partnership.
“Trust me on this, I love that guy, and we were together for seven years in a very different way than you guys are together,” Bayless said, reflecting on his time with Sharpe. “Because we took it up a notch from what Stephen A. and I did.”
Bayless acknowledged that their relationship had frayed during their final year together, but he made it clear that he fought hard for Sharpe to stay. “In year seven, did we fray a little bit? Sure we did. But I fought for him to stay,” Bayless explained. “I don’t know what happened between Shannon and the people upstairs because I wasn’t privy to it. But he left before I did, and it tore me apart.”
Bayless recounted a heartfelt conversation with Sharpe on his last day at Undisputed. “I told him in his dressing room, ‘I envy you because you’re gonna get to do what I want to do,’” Bayless revealed. “I still had a year left on my deal, and he got pushed out the back door. It tore me up. I missed him.”
The host also highlighted how Sharpe’s Hall of Fame credentials and three Super Bowl championships often led to friction during their debates on the show. “In the end, Stephen A. is more of a showman, an entertainer,” Bayless said, contrasting his experience with Sharpe. “Our debates could be a little sillier, but with Shannon, it was different. He’s an ex-pro football player, now in the Hall of Fame, and I do know football.”
Bayless admitted that his deep knowledge of football sometimes led to heated debates, which may have frustrated Sharpe. “I would take it to whatever depth Shannon wanted to go, talking X’s and O’s,” Bayless said. “I don’t know the jargon like 22-man and bomb blitz, but we would get into it about football. He would get annoyed that I would dare to go that deep when I didn’t play football.”
Despite the occasional clashes, Bayless spoke fondly of his time with Sharpe, noting how their debates often pushed the boundaries. “I loved every minute with Shannon, but we took it to levels of supreme debate where it went right to the edge and occasionally slightly over the edge of competitiveness,” Bayless admitted. “By the seventh year, it’s a long time, man. We had some great runs. We did some big ratings numbers that, trust me, will never be touched again in FS1 history.”
Sharpe’s departure wasn’t the only abrupt change at Undisputed. Bayless himself left the show suddenly in August 2024. His exit came without any formal farewell or mention of a final appearance.
On his last day, Bayless hosted the show alongside co-hosts Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce, conducting the episode as usual. However, shortly after the broadcast, Bayless took to social media to announce his departure from FS1.
“Today was my last show on Undisputed,” Bayless wrote after the August 2 episode. “I’m leaving FS1. I’ve been planning to pursue other opportunities for several months. I had a great 8-year run with a lot of great people at FOX, but now I’m excited for what’s coming up. Stay tuned.”
While both Bayless and Sharpe have moved on from Undisputed and found success elsewhere, Bayless’ reflections offer a glimpse into the complexities of their working relationship and the emotional toll that Sharpe’s departure took on him.
Despite their on-air friction, Bayless’ admiration for Sharpe remains evident, as does the lasting impact of their seven years together as one of sports television’s most dynamic duos.
