FS1 reached an $18 million buyout with ESPN that paves the way for analyst Keyshawn Johnson to join Skip Bayless on UNDISPUTED, The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reports. According to Marchand, Johnson is expected to be on UNDISPUTED starting Monday.
Johnson was part of ESPN’s layoffs over the summer, which ended a tenure at the network that began in 2007. However, ESPN still had control over Johnson’s ability to be an on-air broadcaster elsewhere since his contract, which was due to pay him $18 million over five years, with ESPN did not expire.
FS1 and ESPN came to the buyout agreement, which also allows Johnson to host a radio show or podcast elsewhere if he so chooses.
On Monday, Bayless announced Johnson as part of his new UNDISPUTED “Dream Team” that is tasked to replace Shannon Sharpe beginning this fall. Johnson joins Richard Sherman and Michael Irvin across the desk from Skip Bayless for the NFL season, beginning next week.
While Johnson joins FS1, Sharpe will appear on ESPN’s First Take a few times a week starting in September, in what will be a role reversal between the two major on-air personalities.
