ESPN’s First Take is set to undergo a significant roster shift for the upcoming NFL season, as host Stephen A. Smith announced the return of two of the show’s most recognizable former contributors. In a video posted to his YouTube channel on Sunday, Smith confirmed that Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and veteran broadcaster Skip Bayless will be joining the program’s rotation, according to Awful Announcing.
According to Smith, Irvin will appear on the show every Monday throughout the NFL season, while Bayless is scheduled for monthly appearances. The move marks a return to a more familiar lineup for the network following a year of turnover that saw high-profile departures, including Shannon Sharpe, Ryan Clark, and Cam Newton.
The return of Bayless and Irvin brings established debate chemistry to the set, but it also places ESPN in a complex position. Both contributors have faced significant off-air controversies. Bayless recently departed FS1 following a lawsuit naming him as a defendant regarding allegations of sexual misconduct, while Irvin was previously suspended and exited the network in 2023 following a separate sexual misconduct accusation at a Phoenix hotel during Super Bowl week. These additions come as the network navigates its own internal standards, having previously sidelined Sharpe amid his own legal challenges last spring.