Skip Bayless Biography
Skip Bayless is an American commentator, sports columnist and television personality working for FOX Sports as a co-host. He joined the FOX Sports news team in September 2016, after previously working for ESPN.
Skip Bayless Career
Bayless developed an early interest in sports, engaging in baseball and basketball during his youth. Graduating as the salutatorian of Northwest Classen’s class of 1970, he demonstrated academic excellence and leadership as a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, and an officer in the letterman’s club. Encouraged by an English teacher, he served as the primary sports columnist for the school newspaper in his junior and senior years. He represented Northwest Classen at Oklahoma Boys State and was honored with the Grantland Rice Scholarship, allowing him to attend Vanderbilt University. At Vanderbilt, he pursued a major in English and history, graduating cum laude in 1974. During his time at the university, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, holding the position of the chapter’s “rho” (sports director).
Additionally, he served as the sports editor of The Hustler, Vanderbilt’s student newspaper. In the summer of 1969, he interned under sports editor Frank Boggs at The Daily Oklahoman. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Bayless began his career at The Miami Herald, where he spent just over two years writing sports features. Following his stint there, he joined the Los Angeles Times in August 1976, gaining recognition for investigative stories. Particularly, those covering the Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse dynamics and the decisions made by Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom regarding starting quarterbacks. In 1977, he was honored with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Newspaper Writing for his coverage of Seattle Slew’s Triple Crown victory. At the age of 26, he was hired by The Dallas Morning News as the lead sports columnist, and later, he moved to the Dallas Times Herald. His work in Dallas earned him the title of Texas Sportswriter of the Year three times (1979, 1984, and 1986) from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
In 1989, he authored his first book, “God’s Coach: The Hymns, Hype and Hypocrisy of Tom Landry’s Cowboys,” delving into the rise and fall of Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys. Subsequent books followed, such as “The Boys: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys’ Season on the Edge” after the Cowboys’ Super Bowl victory in 1993 and “Hell-Bent: The Crazy Truth About the ‘Win or Else’ Dallas Cowboys” after the team’s third Super Bowl win in four seasons. “Hell-Bent” stirred controversy for reporting on speculation about Troy Aikman’s sexuality. After 17 years in Dallas, he became the lead sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune in 1998, winning the Lisagor Award for excellence in sports column writing in his first year. In 2000, he was named Illinois Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He left the Chicago Tribune in July 2001. His writings have also been featured in national sports publications, including Sports Illustrated.
Radio
In 1991, Bayless ventured into sports talk radio, hosting a show from 6–8 p.m. Monday through Friday on Dallas radio station KLIF. He continued his radio involvement by becoming one of the original investors in the Fort Worth radio station KTCK (“the Ticket”) in 1994. Moreover, he hosted “The Skip Bayless Show” from 6–9 a.m. on weekdays from 1994 to 1996. However, when Cumulus Media acquired the station in 1996, they bought out his contract. During the mid-1990s, he was a frequent guest on ESPN Radio’s inaugural national weekday show, “The Fabulous Sports Babe.” After relocating to Chicago, he regularly appeared on Chet Coppock’s show on the Sporting News Radio network, “Coppock On Sports.” In 2001, he took on the role of primary guest host for the syndicated radio program, “The Jim Rome Show.” He further expanded his radio presence by co-hosting a weekend show on ESPN Radio with former SportsCenter anchor Larry Beil. This collaboration continued until 2004 when Bayless transitioned into full-time television work.
Television & Films
In 1989, Skip Bayless became a panelist on ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters,” alongside host Dick Schaap. Over the next decade, he regularly appeared on the Sunday morning show. In 1992, he joined the original debate team on NFL Prime Monday’s “Knights of the Roundtable” segments, featuring alongside Mitch Albom and Michael Wilbon. He expanded his presence to the Golf Channel in 1999 and 2000, providing commentary for major golf championships. In 2001 and 2002, he appeared on Jim Rome’s show on Fox Sports Net, “The Last Word,” and made frequent appearances on Fox’s “The Best Damn Sports Show Period.” After Rome moved to ESPN in 2003, he became a regular on “Rome is Burning” and engaged in a weekly SportsCenter debate segment with Stephen A. Smith, titled “Old School/Nu Skool.” ESPN hired him full-time in 2004 for daily debate segments called “1st and 10” on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza.”
He also wrote columns for ESPN.com until May 2007 when the show was rebranded as “First Take,” and production moved to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Bayless resumed writing columns for ESPN.com in August 2012. He parted ways with ESPN in 2016 and, along with Shannon Sharpe, debuted “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” on Fox Sports 1 in September 2016. He is known for his criticism of athletes like LeBron James and Aaron Rodgers. In March 2021, he signed a four-year, $32 million contract with Fox Sports. However, he faced criticism for insensitive remarks about Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in September 2020. On January 2, 2023, he made a controversial tweet amid Damar Hamlin’s hospitalization for injuries sustained in an NFL game, but later apologized, emphasizing the importance of the player’s health. Along with his ESPN colleagues Woody Paige and Jay Crawford, made a cameo appearance in the 2006 film “Rocky Balboa.”
In the movie, they are featured in their “First and 10” segment discussing a potential fight between a retired Rocky Balboa and the current heavyweight champion Mason Dixon. He expresses the opinion that Balboa is “completely overrated” and playfully mocks his age. Additionally, he appeared in the 2010 ESPN 30 for 30 films titled “Pony Excess,” which focuses on the Southern Methodist University football scandal involving serious violations of NCAA rules and regulations. He covered the Mustangs while working for both The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times Herald. He also appeared in the 2011 ESPNU documentary “Herschel,” which delves into the life and career of University of Georgia running back Herschel Walker. In 2008, Bayless was honored by being selected to the Oklahoma City Wall of Fame, which recognizes outstanding alumni of Oklahoma City public schools. The following year, in 2009, he was inducted as one of the five members of the inaugural class of the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame.
In 2012, he received two notable honors. He was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Analyst. Additionally, he co-received, along with DJ Steve Porter, a Webby People’s Voice Award in the category of Video Remixes/Mashups for “All He Does Is Win.” This mashup featured clips of Bayless passionately defending the often-criticized quarterback Tim Tebow.
Books
In his literary works, Bayless has delved into various aspects of football, providing insights and perspectives on notable teams and figures. One of his published books is titled “God’s Coach: The Hymns, Hype, and Hypocrisy of Tom Landry’s Cowboys” (Simon & Schuster, 1990). In the book, he explores the intricacies and contradictions surrounding Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. Another publication, “The Boys: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys’ Season on the Edge” (Simon & Schuster, 1993). The book unravels the concealed narratives behind a specific season in the Cowboys’ history. Additionally, he authored “Hell-Bent: The Crazy Truth About the ‘Win or Else’ Dallas Cowboys” (HarperCollins Publishers, 1996). This is a book that sheds light on the intense pressure and expectations faced by the Dallas Cowboys during that period.
Skip Bayless Salary
Bayless earns an annual salary of about $500,000-$600,000.
Skip Bayless Net Worth
Bayless has an estimated net worth of about $17 Million – $20 Million which he has earned through his career as an author.
Skip Bayless Age
Bayless was born on December 4, 1951, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He is 73 years old as of 2024, and he celebrates hi birthday on the 4th of December every year.
Skip Bayless Height and Weight
Bayless stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Skip Bayless Family
Bayless is the son of Levita Bayless and John Bayless who owned and operated the Hickory House restaurant in Oklahoma City, that specializes in barbecue. He has a younger brother called Rick Bayless who is a chef and restaurateur and a sister.
Skip Bayless Wife and Children
Bayless is married to Ernestine Sclafani and they tied the knot in 2016. He resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma together with his family.
FOX Sports
While working for FOX Sports Bayless co-works alongside:
Social Media Platform
Bayless is very active on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. He has 3.2M followers on Twitter 491.3k followers on Instagram and 517k followers on Facebook.