Former NFL cornerback Fred Smoot has a new gig next football.
Dave Portnoy announced on X Friday that Smoot would be joining Barstool Sports “starting next season” as part of their football coverage. The specifics of his role were unclear.
Very happy to announce new addition to the team starting next season. All locked and loaded. We don’t rebuild. We reload @Fsmoot21SeanT pic.twitter.com/2mBnS6s4ot
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 17, 2025
Big Cat shared his excitement over the addition, noting that Smoot would be “in the office every Thursday.”
So pumped for this. Fred Smoot in the office every Thursday is going to be electric https://t.co/zYObrhtkYK
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 17, 2025
Smoot has become a fan favorite in recent years, appearing on Barstool programs and becoming a “quote machine.” The former Minnesota Vikings and Washington player has shown up on Pardon My Take and The Yak, including the time he made an impassioned plea against pumpkins.
Fred Smoot is absolutely electric. Changed everything I thought about Pumpkin pic.twitter.com/KCppOlWyre
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 21, 2024
Smoot also discussed the infamous “Love Boat” controversy during a December appearance on PMT, saying that stories about the Minnesota Vikings boat party sex scandal are overblown. Smoot said that the alleged sex party on Lake Minnetonka that included seventeen members of the Vikings and approximately 100 women was only a big deal “because it was a lot of millionaires” and “because we got caught.” The NFL fined Smoot and former teammate Bryant McKinnie one game’s salary over the incident.
A 2nd round pick by Washington in the 2001 NFL draft, Smoot spent nine seasons in the league, playing in 129 games and recording 450 tackles.
The news comes on the heels of Portnoy announcing that Bussin’ With the Boys hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan will be departing the company.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.