Emmanuel Acho among several names emerging as candidates to replace Shannon Sharpe

Longtime Undisputed cohost and former superstar tight end in the NFL, Shannon Sharpe is leaving Fox Sports following a negotiated buyout from his contract. While he’s on to greener pastures, Fox Sports and Undisputed’s other, primary host, Skip Bayless, is left partner-less for the time being and needs a replacement for his longtime sparring mate.

According to Front Office Sports, there’s a bevy of big names in the sports broadcasting world who could emerge as targets for Fox Sports to replace Sharpe. One of the names high on the list is none other than former NFL running back LeSeaon McCoy along with several of his cohosts.

“LeSean McCoy is emerging as an early possible contender to succeed Shannon Sharpe as Skip Bayless’ debate partner on Undisputed. The former NFL star turned co-host of FS1’s Speak is expected to have an extended audition with the irascible Bayless once Sharpe takes his contractual buyout from Fox Sports, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports.”

McCoy, 34, joined FS1 in September after a 12-year career in the NFL, in which he appeared in six Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowl championships. He currently serves as co-host of FS1‘s Speak alongside Joy Taylor and Emmanuel Acho.

Coincidentally, FOS also mentioned Acho and Taylor as potential options to star across from Bayless as well. Acho’s been involved with myriad talk shows and sports broadcasting projects, even filling in as host of The Bachelor at one point. Taylor’s also been in media for a while and was on The Herd with Colin Cowherd for a number of years. They weren’t alone, though, as other ESPN and FS1 talents Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin and Nick Wright were all thrown out as possible replacements in the report as well.

“McCoy’s Speak co-hosts Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor are also candidates to succeed Sharpe after his six-plus year run with Bayless on the morning embrace debate show. Ditto for Nick Wright, the opinionated and talented co-host of First Things First. Outside of FS1, the sports cable network could make a run at ESPN’s Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, and the NFL Network/ESPN’s Michael Irvin.”

Kellerman would be a funny hire alongside Bayless after he originally took over for Bayless alongside Stephen A. Smith on First Take when the pair split up. Of course, Smith also got Kellerman booted from the program eventually as well, so the two Stephen A. ex-cohosts could link up together on their own project.

Either way, it sounds like Fox Sports is looking at a pretty wide range of characters and personalities to fill the void left by Shannon Sharpe.

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