File: Keyshawn Johnson Agrees to ESPN Contract Buyout to Be a part of Bayless, Undisputed

Venerable Pro Bowl huge receiver Keyshawn Johnson agreed to a settlement of his $18 million ESPN contract to affix Skip Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed, the New York Put up‘s Andrew Marchand reported.

Johnson became as soon as let spin by ESPN as section of a bunch of layoffs in June, but the community calm managed his rights due to the the five-365 days, $18 million contract he signed in 2022.

He broke from the settlement “after long, onerous negotiations,” Marchand wrote.

Johnson, who became as soon as named to a couple Pro Bowls and won a Huge Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his 11 seasons as an NFL huge receiver, had beforehand hosted a morning demonstrate on ESPN radio and regarded on a quantity of ESPN reveals. He is expected to birth his novel feature as Bayless’ partner Monday, per Marchand.

Johnson is determined to make “the identical quantity” at FS1 following the buyout, Marchand reported.

He can even uncover to retain onto his audio rights and also can merely calm file radio or podcast reveals with one other community, per Marchand.

Bayless first announced that Johnson would be joining Undisputed Monday in a post the effect he described the demonstrate’s “novel dream crew.”

The announcement marked a rebranding for Undisputed, which became as soon as forced to pivot after longtime co-host Shannon Sharpe reached a buyout settlement with FS1 in Could merely. Before the buyout, the connection between Sharpe and Bayless had been visibly disturbing.

Nonetheless, Bayless’ announcement became as soon as “untimely,” Marchand and Ryan Glasspiegel reported for the Put up. On the time of the Tweet, Johnson had now no longer yet been released from ESPN.

As NBC Sports’ Mike Florio described it, Johnson “would seemingly must quit his buyout to make that happen — and ESPN (which presumably will get some kind of write off for eating Johnson’s contract) would must enable it.”

Fortunately for FS1, who important a novel co-host with a high ample profile to interchange Sharpe, ESPN and Johnson were reportedly in a space to resolve.

Whereas Sharpe joins ESPN’s “First Keep shut,” Johnson will be added to an ensemble solid featuring Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin, Rachel Nichols and Lil Wayne as collection regulars.