For years, Fox has positioned Nick Wright as the future of FS1.
Now the network is putting its money where its mouth is.
According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, Fox Sports has signed Wright to a long-term contract. While it’s hardly surprising that Fox would look to lock up the First Things First co-host to a long-term deal, the timing of it is certainly interesting considering the larger context at FS1.
Earlier this year, Fox let Skip Bayless’ contract expire, while Colin Cowherd is nearing the end of his own deal in 2025. And although it’s reasonable to think Fox would make a stronger (or any) effort to re-sign the host of The Herd, it also seems viable that he will consider his options elsewhere, especially considering his role as the founder of The Volume.
Should Cowherd’s time at Fox reach an end, barring any sizable additions, that would leave Wright as FS1’s biggest star. And even if Cowherd remains with the company, it’s been impossible not to notice the Kansas City native’s recent rise.
Despite FS1 undergoing several shifts in strategy over the years, First Things First has remained one of its most consistent draws. After initially launching as the early morning lead-in to the Bayless and Shannon Sharpe version of Undisputed in 2017, the debate show became a cornerstone program in its own right, eventually moving to a 3 p.m. ET timeslot.
While the seats opposite Wright have been a revolving door — Cris Carter and Brandon Marshall are among its previous co-hosts — the former Kansas City and Houston radio host has been the backbone of the program. And the current iteration of the show, which features Wright alongside Kevin Wildes and Chris Broussard, has proven to be both a commercial and critical success.
It was just last month that FS1 underwent its latest shakeup, with the formation of Breakfast Ball and The Facility following Bayless’ exit. But while Cowherd’s uncertain contract status at Fox still looms, the network now knows that it can count on Wright as both the future and present of its programming.
