"We try our best to respect the game and showcase and display it in a fashion that might be a little bit more appetizing for a different group of people that are watching alongside the best play commentators on Earth."
"But we have found, by the way, the NFL to be a great partner. And they're looking to innovate constantly. I feel like it's a great American story. Because it's a great American product."
"The danger comes when inflated or expanded definitions of “viewership” become accepted without context. Because eventually those expectations become baked into rights fees, ad sales, staffing decisions, and long-term business strategy."
"ESPN doesn’t need nostalgia—it needs impact. And impact is exactly what a recurring role for Bayless on First Take could deliver. The history is proven, the attention is guaranteed, and the interest is already built in."
"We look forward to honoring the content that moved audiences in 2026 and continuing the Gracies’ long-standing investment in the people who will shape what comes next.”