With FS1 recently undergoing massive lineup changes, Colin Cowherd is the unequivocal face of the network and reportedly will be for the foreseeable future.
First reported by Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, Cowherd is nearing a new contract with the network, although a deal has not been finalized. Cowherd’s current contract is set to expire less than one month from now.
The longtime sports radio host joined FS1 almost 10 years ago, making the jump from ESPN in 2015. Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe followed in 2016, serving as the network’s pillars. But after Sharpe left in 2023 and Bayless departed last summer, Cowherd undoubtedly remains the network’s biggest daytime sports personality, with The Herd airing on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Nick Wright has emerged as a close second in recent years, but even he agrees Cowherd still holds that title.
Terms of the reportedly looming contract were not shared, but at least one significant change is expected, with the 61-year-old sports host planning to split time between Los Angeles and Chicago, where his wife is from. According to Glasspiegel, Cowherd could potentially host his show from the Big Ten Network studios when in Chicago. Cowherd has touted Chicago as being his favorite city, wanting to move his show there for a better work-life balance.
Cowherd is a steadying presence for FS1 despite years of lineup shuffling and a recent workplace misconduct lawsuit that named Skip Bayless, Joy Taylor and network executive Charlie Dixon as defendants. Cowherd was not named in the lawsuit.
During his last round of contract negotiations in 2020, Cowherd admitted he spoke to ESPN about a potential reunion. And with his current contract nearing an end, there were some thoughts that he might give up his daily show to focus on business ventures such as The Volume, the rapidly growing podcast network he founded. But it appears as if FS1 will be able to retain their most important talent at an important time for the network.