ESPN welcomes Skip Bayless back to First Take for football season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 14, 2026, 4:05 AM
Last updated Sep 14, 2026
Skip Bayless returns to ESPN's First Take, appearing every Friday for the upcoming football season. This marks his first regular appearance since leaving in 2016. His recent return drew 674,000 viewers, a 24% increase over the show's average viewership. ESPN aims to capitalize on the nostalgia while keeping content fresh as they look to evolve the program beyond its past successes.
- •Bayless will appear on First Take every Friday during the football season.
- •His first episode this year averaged 674,000 viewers.
- •The return generated over 33.5 million social media impressions.
- •ESPN plans to keep the discussion relevant to current sports.
- •Viewership increased by 24% compared to the program's average.
- 4:05 AMYahoo Sports — How ESPN Can Turn Skip Bayless’ First Take Return Into Something Bigger
""This isn’t about recreating 2012. That version of First Take already happened. It’s about recognizing what can still work in 2026." The post How ESPN Can Turn Skip Bayless’ First Take Return Into Something Bigger appeared first on Barrett Media.
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