Skip Bayless Will Return To ESPN's 'First Take' This Week

It's been a long time since Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless teamed up for an episode of sports television.

That's about to change, though.

Smith, the star of ESPN's "First Take," is set to welcome his old foe back to the airwaves. Bayless, who left ESPN for Fox Sports 1 more than a decade ago, will be returning to the Worldwide Leader in Sports. He'll be doing a special episode of ESPN's "First Take" on Friday, May 8.

Bayless hasn't appeared on ESPN since he left the network in 2016. This will be his first appearance back.

It's expected to be a one-time thing.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports broke the news.

"The two deans of "Embrace Debate" are reuniting. Skip Bayless will join Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take this Friday, Front Office Sports has learned," he reported.

"The reunion of the two former TV partners is described as a "one-time show." It will be the first time Bayless and Smith have appeared together on ESPN's top-rated morning show since June 2016."

Bayless has spoken very highly of Smith

While Bayless and Smith would often go at it on the air, there was a clear mutual respect between them, that hasn't really been matched since in sports debate TV.

Bayless knew that he and Smith had something special.

"No one has ever quite matched the chemistry that maybe God above gave us," Bayless told Smith durining an episode of The Arena in February. "Can't teach it, or coach it. It just worked, and it was entertaining, and enlightening. It was just fun."

It'll be interesting to see if they can recapture their magic on Friday.

Topics expected to be discussed can probably include LeBron James, Michael Jordan, the Cowboys and more.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 9:37 AM.