In a move that signals a major shift in the sports media landscape, Clay Travis has announced he is departing Outkick, the digital platform he launched back in 2011. The polarizing figure, whose commentary has increasingly leaned toward politics in recent years, sold Outkick to Fox in 2019 and will now step away from daily operations to become a full-time contributor for Fox News.
Travis broke the news on June 8, confirming that Outkick will be folded into Fox News Digital as a sub-brand. The transition means the site will continue to operate under the Fox umbrella, but without Travis at the helm. He will, however, remain on Fox’s payroll with a new contract that keeps him on air as a commentator and host of OutKick the Show with Clay Travis on FS1.
The announcement comes as no surprise to those who have watched Travis’s evolution from a sports blogger to a conservative political voice. While Outkick originally gained traction for its irreverent sports takes, Travis’s recent focus on culture wars and political commentary made him a fixture on Fox News. Now, he’s leaning fully into that role.
In a statement, Travis reflected on the journey: “When I created OutKick in 2011, the goal was not only for the site to be smart, original, funny, and authentic, but also to become an influential digital platform in the industry. Over the past 15 years, with the help of an incredible team and the support from Fox, that goal has been accomplished.”
He added, “While I am stepping away from OutKick, the platform is in a tremendous position to continue building upon its success and reach an even wider audience as it takes its next step as a vertical within Fox News Digital. I’m excited about the future of OutKick and remaining part of the Fox News Media family as a contributor.”
Fox News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace also weighed in, praising Travis’s leadership. “Clay Travis has been an integral voice and leader for OutKick and is leaving the platform well positioned for the future,” Wallace said. “We thank him for his invaluable contributions to OutKick as we continue to grow it under the Fox News Digital domain and build on our momentum in driving authentic coverage of the intersection of sports and culture.”
The move underscores the growing trend of sports media personalities crossing over into political commentary. Travis joins a list of figures who have leveraged sports platforms to build broader audiences. Meanwhile, Outkick’s integration into Fox News Digital could signal a shift in how the network approaches sports content, blending it more seamlessly with its political coverage.
As for Travis, his next chapter is already taking shape. He’ll continue to host his FS1 show and appear regularly on Fox News, where his fiery takes are likely to keep him in the spotlight. For fans of his original sports-focused work, the departure marks the end of an era—but for Travis, it’s just the beginning of a new one.
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