Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith to reunite on ESPN's 'First Take' for one day only

Skip Bayless is returning to ESPN’s “First Take” — but for a precise constricted clip only.

Bayless volition articulation Stephen A. Smith connected Friday’s occurrence of the fashionable sports statement amusement successful what the web describes arsenic “a one-time reunion” betwixt the 2 men who haven’t hosted the programme unneurotic successful astir 10 years.

“CAN’T WAIT FOR FRIDAY,” Bayless wrote Monday connected X. “MORE SOON.”

Bayless appeared connected “First Take” from the show’s inception successful 2007 until helium near ESPN successful 2016. Smith has remained connected “First Take,” which helium presently hosts with Shae Cornette.

It was Smith’s thought to bring backmost Bayless arsenic a peculiar guest, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with the concern but not authorized to sermon it publicly.

After leaving ESPN, Bayless joined Fox Sports, wherever helium co-hosted likewise formatted amusement “Undisputed” — for overmuch of the clip with co-host Shannon Sharpe — from 2016 to 2024. He presently hosts a podcast, “The Skip Bayless Show,” and is simply a regular contributor connected the integer sports amusement “The Arena: Gridiron,” starring Gilbert Arenas.

In 2024, Smith addressed rumors of Bayless perchance re-joining “First Take.”

“Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, unneurotic arsenic partners, moving crossed from each different connected a statement show, is over,” Smith said connected his podcast. “It’s been over. And this is not the archetypal clip I’ve said it. There’s nary negativity oregon shadiness being thrown connected Skip Bayless. I person moved on.”