Stephen A. Smith. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Stephen A. Smith 'happier' without Skip Bayless amid rumors of reunion

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jan 26, 2023 2:13 PM ET

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith seemingly has poured cold water over the idea of a reunion with Skip Bayless of Fox Sports.

"At this stage and point in my life, I’m happier without him," Smith said of Bayless during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, as shared by Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing. "I’m not going back. That’s not what I want anymore. But it has nothing to do with a debate show, it’s that I have other aspirations. I’ve been named the executive producer of (ESPN's) "First Take." I have my own production company…I have my own podcast…I’ve got a lot of aspirations. I want to do late-night television one day, potentially succeed Jimmy Kimmel."

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reported that Smith and Bayless could "launch their own show on a platform like YouTube" similar to how former NFL punter Pat McAfee has utilized that platform to become a media sensation. McCarthy added that Smith and Bayless possibly "could" be free agents at the same time in 2025.

This past June, Bayless mentioned that "Smith pushed" ESPN to hire Bayless back for ESPN+ content and, eventually, for a traditional television show. However, Bayless elected to remain with Fox:

For pockets of sports fans around the country, Smith and Bayless became household names due to their work together on "First Take" from 2012-16 until Bayless jumped to Fox to launch "Undisputed." A 2.0 edition of Stephen A. and Skip appears unlikely, but Smith said during the podcast the two could reunite for at least a one-time event.

"If you talk about one final day with Skip Bayless, I’d welcome that any day of the week just to pay homage for what he’s done for me," Smith explained. "And to beat him again. I’ve always beaten him. He never beat me in a debate."

Smith has been busy making the media rounds this month to promote his book entitled "Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes." Bayless, meanwhile, generated negative headlines in early January regarding a tweet he sent after Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills went into cardiac arrest during a game at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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