Skip Bayless has revealed that his relationship with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman is on much better terms after years of tension stemming from Bayless’ 1996 book, Hell-Bent, which addressed a rumor about Aikman’s sexuality. During a recent appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, hosted by Dan “Big Cat” Katz and PFT Commenter (Eric Sollenberger), Bayless shared that he and Aikman have reconciled and now maintain a friendly relationship.
“Troy has been nothing but good to me,” Bayless said on the podcast, reflecting on how they’ve moved past their rocky history. He added, “We’re in touch, we’re friendly. Things are great between us.” Bayless then clarified that PFT was likely referencing the fallout that occurred after the release of his book, which led to years of discord between the two.
PFT asked directly, “Did you imply or say [Aikman] was gay in the book?”
Bayless, somewhat defensive, responded, “I did not say [that]… you obviously didn’t read it.” This prompted Big Cat to joke, “We don’t read,” but Bayless continued, explaining that the book actually portrayed Aikman in a positive light. He expressed surprise that Aikman initially disliked the book, stating that he had delivered the first copy to Aikman personally.
“If you had read my book, you would love the way I portrayed Troy in it, because Troy was the hero of that book,” Bayless explained. “I liked my portrayal of him so much that I signed a copy and hand-delivered it to him on the first day of training camp at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. After practice, I took my book up and gave it to him.”
Bayless admitted that he was “shocked” when Aikman didn’t respond well to the book at first, but over time, they were able to mend their relationship. “We have come back around, and he’s been nothing but great to me. And we text,” Bayless shared, signaling that any lingering resentment from the book has seemingly been resolved.
For years, the tension between the two was well-documented, particularly after Aikman publicly criticized Fox Sports for hiring Bayless in 2016. At the time, Aikman, who was Fox’s lead NFL analyst, made his feelings known in an interview with Sports Illustrated, saying, “To say I’m disappointed in the hiring of Skip Bayless would be an enormous understatement. I believe success is achieved by acquiring and developing talented, respected, and credible individuals, none of which applies to Skip Bayless.”
Aikman’s harsh words underscored the rift between the two, which dated back to the book’s release. In Hell-Bent, Bayless didn’t accuse Aikman of being gay but did acknowledge a rumor circulating in the Cowboys’ inner circle at the time, which he claimed originated from then-head coach Barry Switzer’s camp.
Bayless noted that he never pursued the rumor after speaking with sources close to Aikman, including his agent Leigh Steinberg, a Dallas police source, and sportscaster Dale Hansen, all of whom denied the rumor.
Despite this, the damage to their relationship was clear, and the animosity persisted for years. Aikman’s disapproval of Bayless remained public, even as both men continued their careers at Fox—Aikman as a lead commentator and Bayless as a sports analyst known for his provocative takes.
In recent years, Aikman transitioned to ESPN in 2022, while Bayless departed from Fox Sports in August after his contract expired, shifting to digital content creation. Despite their professional differences, it appears time has allowed the two to put their past issues behind them.
Although Aikman has not yet commented on Bayless’ latest remarks about their relationship, it seems that the long-standing tension between the two sports figures has finally eased.
After years of public friction, Bayless’ revelation that the two are now in touch—and even exchanging texts—marks a significant turnaround in what was once a highly publicized rift.
