Skip Bayless links up with NBA star for new sports show

Skip Bayless is returning for a new football show for the 2025 NFL season, linking up with former NBA star Gilbert Arenas.

The new program will be called “The Arena: Gridiron” and it will seek to build on the success of Arenas’ popular NBA show. The football version will be produced and owned by Underdog, who also host the basketball show.

“I’m not exaggerating to you,” Bayless told The Athletic. “I’m telling you, the God’s truth, I’m more on fire for this than I have ever been.”

“I’m back in the saddle in the debate arena,” he continued. “I live for this. I love this. And I’m not one who curses, but they actually worked me into such a frenzy in the rehearsals that I came close to uttering my first F-bomb.”

The veteran broadcaster has a long career in the world of sports media, most notably on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ and ‘Undisputed’ on FS1.

He left FS1 last year and was later named by a former colleague in a lawsuit alleging that he made unwanted sexual advances towards her. Noushin Faraji accused Bayless of offering her money for sex, claims that Bayless has repeatedly denied.

“They have no concerns,” Bayless said of his new employers. “I’ve talked to Gil. He has no concerns. I mean, he’s obviously concerned, but he believes he did nothing at all wrong, except rent out his space, and I believe in him.”

On the new show Bayless and Arenas will be joined by ex-NFL cornerback Aqib Talib and former NFL coach Jay Gruden. Alongside them, Gerald McCoy and Cody Kessler will be regular guests and social media influencer Kinsey Wolanski is set to host the program.

“I had the privilege of working with Stephen A. Smith over a 14-year span,” Bayless said. “I had the privilege of working with Shannon Sharpe for seven years. I’ve spent the last year looking for a new partner who would excite me or inspire me or be able to challenge me, and I found that partner in Gilbert Arenas.”

“He’s a powerhouse on social media and in the digital space. He’s even bigger than he was as a three-time NBA All-Star. He has turned that Gilbert Arena show into a runaway hit.”

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