Why and when did Shannon Sharpe leave ‘Undisputed’? The backstory with co-host Skip Bayless
The former star tight end began his television tenure with ESPN in the summer of 2023, here’s a look back at what he did with FOX, and why he stopped.
After what seemed like a sudden departure from hosting duties back in 2023, the legendary tight end quickly found a new home after bidding farewell to the adoring fans of the beloved FS1 morning show, He had been Skip Bayless’ partner in crime on “Undisputed” since September 2016.
Shannon Sharpe’s time on ‘Undisputed’ was not sustainable
The departure of Shannon Sharpe from the show was attributed to the escalating tensions between him and Skip Bayless, which came to a head in January 2023. This was triggered by a controversial tweet from Bayless about Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, leading to the cancellation of the game. Following his absence on “Undisputed” the following morning, Sharpe confronted Bayless upon his return.
But why did Shannon Sharpe leave “Undisputed”?
Sharpe’s exit from the show occurred within two weeks of a report by the New York Post that he had reached a buyout agreement with Fox Sports. His final appearance on the show was scheduled to be after the NBA Finals. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is officially my last day at work. After seven years, the train stops with Shannon Sharpe and ‘Undisputed’ right here.” Said Sharpe on air as he said farewell to everyone on the show.
“Skip Bayless, you fought for me. I’m here because of you. You’ve allowed me to share the stage with you. You allow me to share the platform,” Sharpe commented as well. Of course, his final comments in themselves were somewhat surprising after reports of bad blood between the two.
Where did Shannon Sharpe go after leaving FOX?
Shannon Sharpe signed a deal with ESPN to become a contributor for the network’s popular show, ‘First Take.’ His contract was renewed on June 11, 2024.
With that trend in mind, let’s turn the clock back to when Sharpe called time on his stint with FS1, Skip Bayless, and ‘Undisputed.’ As mentioned above, he did so to join Smith on ‘First Take’ which airs every Monday and Tuesday during the NFL season. Now, while there are a number of hosts already on ESPN’s plate including JJ Redick, Marcus Spears, and Ryan Clark, it goes without saying that Sharpe, a Hall of Famer, and one who has seasons with Bayless under his belt, is the most established. What happens next is likely to be a pairing of the two personalities, but it will be very interesting to see where Smith ends up after he made it clear that he has ambitions that extend beyond sporting debates.