Skip Bayless has built a reputation on strong opinions, dramatic statements, and sports takes that often spark reactions across social media. Whether he’s analyzing a player, criticizing a coach, or reacting to breaking news, his posts consistently attract attention—sometimes because they’re insightful, and other times because they miss the mark. Over the years, several of his tweets have gone viral, drawing backlash, memes, or renewed attention when proven wrong.
1. Josh Freeman Over Cam Newton?
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/269506559158145024
Tweet: “Long term give me Josh Freeman over Cam. Better leader, more consistent passer, more clutch, more poised under fire, more careful with ball.”
At the time, Josh Freeman was coming off a solid season with the Buccaneers, while Cam Newton was still proving himself after a sensational rookie year. Bayless argued Freeman was the better long-term bet — a take that has not aged well.
By 2015, Freeman was out of the NFL, while Newton had earned league MVP honors and led his team to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. Newton retired with over 32,000 passing yards and a legacy as one of the most dominant running quarterbacks ever. The tweet became a case study in poor football forecasting.
2. The Cam Newton vs. Tim Tebow Take
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/105687014296395776
Tweet: “Again, I think Cam can be a good NFL QB. But I think Tebow (given Cam’s opportunity and support) can be a little better.”
Cam Newton had just entered the NFL and would go on to break rookie records. Meanwhile, Tim Tebow’s unconventional style was drawing mixed reviews. Bayless’s take, suggesting Tebow could outperform Newton under the same conditions, reflected his longtime defense of Tebow and sparked fierce debate.
Years later, Newton became an MVP and one of the most successful dual-threat QBs in NFL history. Tebow’s career as a starting quarterback ended after just three seasons. The tweet resurfaced in 2016, with many pointing to it as a glaring example of Bayless’s off-base predictions.
3. The Damar Hamlin Game Suspension Tweet
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1610101204687949827
Tweet: “No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
During a game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field — a chilling moment that led to the game’s suspension. Skip Bayless posted this tweet shortly after, pointing out the logistical challenge of rescheduling such an important matchup. Though he acknowledged the outcome felt “irrelevant,” many criticized the tweet as prioritizing the NFL schedule over Hamlin’s life.
The backlash was swift, with athletes and fans calling out the insensitivity. At the same time, support for Hamlin poured in, raising over $8.7 million for his charity. Bayless’s tweet became a lightning rod in the conversation around sports media priorities and empathy.
4. Johnny Manziel vs. LeBron James
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/464836080710086656
Tweet: “Johnny Football will one day be bigger in Cleveland than his buddy LeBron ever was.”
Bayless posted this the day Johnny Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. The city’s long football drought and Manziel’s hype train were at full speed, and LeBron, still with the Miami Heat, had not yet returned to the Cavaliers.
The prediction backfired spectacularly. Manziel’s NFL stint was plagued by off-field issues and underwhelming performances, leading to his release in 2016. Meanwhile, LeBron returned to Cleveland, won the NBA Championship that same year, and is now widely considered the greatest athlete in the city’s history. Bayless’s tweet became infamous for its complete misfire.
5. Von Miller is OVERRATED
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/150700842503249920
Tweet: “I’m sorry, but Von Miller is OVERRATED. I didn’t love him at A&M – disappeared in too many big games. And HE’S Denver’s real MVP? Huh?”
In this tweet, Bayless dismissed Von Miller’s performance at Texas A&M and questioned his value to the Denver Broncos. The criticism resurfaced in 2016 after Miller was named Super Bowl 50 MVP, having dominated with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Fans pointed to the tweet as another example of Bayless underestimating elite talent — and of his opinion not holding up over time.
6. Tim Tebow: most polarizing athlete EVER
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1392540715222110208
Tweet: “Tim Tebow: most polarizing athlete EVER.”
Bayless claimed that Tim Tebow was the most polarizing athlete ever, referencing Tebow’s strong Christian faith, unconventional quarterback style, and later attempt to return to the NFL as a tight end with the Jaguars. The tweet reignited debates about whether Tebow’s career justified that label. Many pointed to athletes like Muhammad Ali or Jackie Robinson as far more historically and culturally significant.
7. Derek Fisher will be better than Steve Kerr
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/476432690045284352
Tweet: “Derek Fisher will prove to be a much better NBA head coach than Steve Kerr.”
Bayless boldly predicted that Derek Fisher, newly hired by the New York Knicks, would outperform Steve Kerr, who had just taken over the Golden State Warriors. History didn’t side with Bayless. Fisher posted a 40-96 record in less than two seasons, while Kerr led the Warriors to multiple championships and was named 2016 NBA Coach of the Year. The tweet is now frequently resurfaced to highlight Bayless’s misfires.
8. Weeden over Tannehill
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/195697789743792129
Tweet: “Browns just stole a starting QB: Brandon Weeden. Much better than Tannehill. Will soon beat out Colt, have 6-7 good yrs. TRich AND Weeden!”
After the Browns drafted Brandon Weeden, Bayless confidently predicted that Weeden would outperform Ryan Tannehill. However, Weeden lasted only a few seasons in the NFL, while Tannehill developed into a reliable starter and even led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game. Bayless’s take became a common example of his bold but often flawed draft-day opinions.
9. Dak over Cardale? Big mistake
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/727209490081284096
Tweet: “Jerry Jones is covering backside by regretting not landing Paxton Lynch? He should be more worried about taking Dak Prescott over Cardale.”
Criticizing the Cowboys’ decision-making, Bayless said Jerry Jones should regret drafting Dak Prescott over Cardale Jones. That claim aged poorly. Prescott quickly became the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback, earning Pro Bowl honors and leading the team to multiple playoff appearances. Cardale Jones, meanwhile, barely saw NFL playing time. This tweet added to Bayless’s record of underestimated talent.
10. All in, my ass
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1767675553765896297
Tweet: “All in, my ass.”
This tweet went viral for an unexpected reason — punctuation. Skip Bayless posted it in apparent reaction to a sports event, but the phrasing led to immediate attention due to how the comma altered the meaning. Without it, the phrase reads completely differently, leading to widespread jokes about how one small punctuation mark saved the tweet from sounding extremely inappropriate.
The post amassed nearly 80 million views and over 20,000 retweets, according to Outkick. Fans and trolls flooded replies with memes mocking the phrasing, including popular formats like SpongeBob and The Rock, showing how even a short, vague tweet can turn into internet gold — and how Bayless continues to dominate attention on social media.
11. “All in, my ass.” — The Podcast Follow-Up
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1768723694720045087
Tweet: “I finally got so sick and tired of Jerry Jones fiddling around while his Rome burns. I lost it. Without thinking, I tweeted ‘all in, my ass.’”
After Skip Bayless’s viral tweet on March 15, he doubled down with this follow-up on The Skip Bayless Show, adding dramatic commentary to explain his infamous “all in, my ass” tweet. Frustrated with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the team’s lackluster free agency moves, Bayless compared Jones’s inaction to “fiddling while Rome burns,” a reference to Emperor Nero’s rumored negligence during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD.
The podcast clip—where Bayless explains the need for the comma and claims, “I hit a gusher of emotion”—was hailed as a content masterclass. Viewers were floored not just by the repetition of the viral line, but by the theatrical delivery and analysis that followed. Internet users called it “better than the original,” comparing it to a sequel that outshines the first movie, with replies full of memes, GIFs, and jokes about how dramatically Skip embraced the moment. Some even joked that he truly believed Cowboys fans were outraged at Jerry Jones rather than laughing at the grammar nuance. Either way, Skip broke the internet again, with nothing but a comma and a microphone.
12. Skip Bayless Questions the Knicks and Coach Thibodeau
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1917405578080706619
Tweet: “There’s just something about these Knicks and their coach I don’t love.”
Skip Bayless posted this remark during the Knicks’ playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, which New York led 3-1 at the time. The vague criticism added to ongoing discussions about coach Tom Thibodeau’s strategy, particularly his pattern of relying heavily on starters for extended minutes. While the Knicks had a strong record, analysts and fans continued to question Thibodeau’s long-term approach, especially in the postseason.
Bayless’s tweet tapped into those frustrations, with replies citing the lack of offensive diversity and overuse of players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Though not explicitly detailed, Bayless’s post aligned with a common theme: skepticism about the Knicks’ ability to maintain their performance through a deep playoff run under Thibodeau’s leadership.
13. Bayless Accuses LeBron of Making a Dangerous Play on Edwards
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1916598390194077836
Tweet: “WHY DID LEBRON HAVE TO TURN HIS BODY INTO ANT MAN’S PLANTED LEFT LEG AS LEBRON WENT DIVING FOR THE LOOSE BALL? DIRTY PLAY. FORTUNATELY, ANT MAN LOOKS OK.”
During Game 4 of the Lakers vs. Timberwolves first-round playoff series, Skip Bayless accused LeBron James of making a dangerous play by colliding with Anthony Edwards’ planted leg while chasing a loose ball. Edwards, nicknamed “Ant Man,” had just delivered a dominant 43-point performance in the Timberwolves’ 116–113 win. Bayless’s post called the move “dirty,” sparking debate across NBA Twitter and sports forums.
The all-caps delivery reflects Bayless’s usual dramatic tone, particularly when commenting on LeBron—someone he’s often criticized throughout his career. While some echoed Bayless’s concern, others viewed the incident as a standard aggressive hustle play common in playoff basketball.
14. Skip Bayless Questions Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Fit in Cleveland
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1916198507087859900
Tweet: “SHEDEUR SHOULD’VE GONE FIRST TO TENNESSEE. HE WENT 144TH, TO ARGUABLY THE NFL’S WORST FRANCHISE, IN A DIVISION FEATURING THE 2 BEST QUARTERBACKS IN THE NFL, IN PRETTY LOUSY WEATHER … AFTER THEY ALREADY TOOK DILLON GABRIEL. SO IS SHEDEUR NOW JUST A VALUABLE TRADING PIECE?”
Skip Bayless criticized the Cleveland Browns’ decision to draft quarterback Shedeur Sanders at 144th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, arguing he would have been a better fit for the Tennessee Titans. Bayless cited the AFC North’s difficult conditions—both weather and competition—highlighting Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow as two of the toughest quarterbacks in the league.
He also noted that Cleveland had already selected Dillon Gabriel earlier in the draft, questioning whether Sanders was seen as a long-term player or just a future trade asset. The tweet triggered strong reactions, with some accusing Bayless of inflating Sanders’ value and overlooking other quarterback prospects. The post added to the ongoing debate around the Browns’ quarterback decisions and Sanders’ NFL readiness.
15. Bayless Labels Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide a Major Mistake
Source: https://x.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1915956193035747502
Tweet: “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SHEDEUR SANDERS IS THE MOST STUNNING AND DISGUSTING DEVELOPMENT IN NFL DRAFT HISTORY. HE SHOULD’VE GONE 1ST OVERALL. MEL KIPER RANKED HIM 5TH, ABOVE CAM WARD AT 6TH.”
Skip Bayless reacted strongly to Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected drop in the 2025 NFL Draft, calling it the most “stunning and disgusting” event in draft history. Sanders, a highly rated quarterback from Colorado and son of Deion Sanders, had been projected by analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. as a top-tier prospect, ranked 5th among quarterbacks. Instead, Sanders fell deep into the draft, going unselected through the first three rounds.
Bayless’s outrage echoed his past overreactions—like his infamous 2014 Johnny Manziel prediction—and drew both support and criticism online. Some fans pointed to perceived attitude issues and questions about Sanders’ leadership as possible reasons for the fall, while others speculated about deeper factors, including potential bias within NFL front offices. The tweet amplified the debate about media-driven expectations versus actual team evaluations on draft day.
Conclusion
Skip Bayless has remained a consistent presence in online sports discussions, not just for his television commentary but also for his tweets. His posts often trigger strong reactions, whether due to questionable predictions, poor timing, or blunt language. Some tweets resurface years later as examples of how wrong a take can be, while others go viral immediately because of how they’re phrased or the subjects they address. Regardless of intent, Bayless continues to draw attention with a style that keeps him relevant and constantly in the spotlight.
