Skip Bayless has generally been off the air since Shannon Sharpe left "Undisputed" in June, but the break won't be permanent. The show is set to return on Aug. 28, and there will be plenty of new faces involved with Sharpe out of the picture.
Bayless announced a rotating cast of former NFL stars who will replace Sharpe. That means there won't be a one single analyst who stars on the show each day like Sharpe did, but it allows "Undisputed" to avoid becoming stale while potentially serving as an interview for the role of permanent co-host.
Sharpe left due in part to a tense relationship with Bayless, which went beyond just the noise of friendly debates. Fox Sports will be looking for Bayless’ new panelists to debate with the same passion as Sharpe while still maintaining a strong relationship with the controversial host.
MORE: Timeline for Shannon Sharpe’s ‘First Take’ debut
Here’s a closer look at the new “Undisputed” lineup and who will be going at it with Bayless throughout the upcoming NFL season.
New 'Undisputed' lineup
It's fair to say "Undisputed" will continue to be heavily football-focused, perhaps even more than it was before. Bayless announced via Twitter that the following personalities will join the show:
- Richard Sherman
- Michael Irvin
- Keyshawn Johnson
According to The New York Post, Johnson is set to be a full-time partner for Bayless. His addition to the show was delayed while he worked out a buyout with ESPN, but the former No. 1 pick is set to play a prominent role alongside Bayless. Johnson has spent much of his post-playing career as an ESPN analyst but was included among the network's layoffs in June.
Irvin might be the most interesting addition of the bunch, as he's still suspended from NFL Network after an alleged incident involving a woman leading up to the Super Bowl. Irvin denied any wrongdoing and sued his accuser for $100 million. Nevertheless, the Cowboys legend is set to be part of a rotating group on FS1.
Sherman was previously reported to be joining Bayless, and he certainly seems like a natural fit after showing again on Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts that he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
The former Seahawks star also gives the show one more championship-level athlete who has been in the locker room and played the game. According to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, Sherman is expected to do 50-100 shows annually while still maintaining his “TNF” schedule.
Sports Business Journal previously reported that Rachel Nichols is also expected to join the show as a regular panelist.
Why did Shannon Sharpe leave 'Undisputed?'
Sharpe often had a tense relationship with Bayless, one which went beyond the traditional heated debates that come with sports talk shows.
The breaking point ultimately seemed to be when Bayless was widely criticized for an insensitive tweet on the night Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati.
With Hamlin’s status still unknown, Bayless tweeted about the logistics of having to reschedule a cancelled game so late in the season, a comment many felt was made far too soon. Sharpe was missing from the show the next morning, and he took issue with Bayless interrupting him when he did return to talk about Hamlin.
MORE: Why Shannon Sharpe left ‘Undisputed’
Sharpe stayed on for another five months and did give a tearful farewell to his co-host when he signed off one final time, but it very much looked like the right time for the two to part ways.
There will be no direct successor to Sharpe, but the show will continue to have a former NFL player in his place at virtually all times.
