Barstool Sports Stars Negotiate $3M Deal Amid Exit Rumors

NEW YORK, NY – Former NFL stars and Barstool Sports podcast hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan are in the midst of high-stakes contract negotiations with the media giant, sparking rumors about their potential departure. The duo, known for their popular podcast “Bussin’ With the Boys,” recently revealed details about their ongoing talks during an episode of the reality competition series “Surviving Barstool.”

“Right now, the ‘Bussin’ With the Boys’ crew is in a negotiation for a bag on the next contract,” Compton said in a January 2025 confessional. “You gotta think, if you’re Dave [Portnoy] and Dan [‘Big Cat‘ Katz], you can’t have the ‘Bussin’ With the Boys’ guys running wild, winning $250K.” Compton, who won season 3 of “Surviving Barstool” in 2024, was voted off the show shortly after his cohost, Lewan.

Compton and Lewan launched their podcast with Barstool Sports in 2019. Their initial deal with the company was a 60/40 revenue split, which increased to 70/30 in their favor after surpassing $1 million in earnings. Their second deal, described as a “competitive offer,” locked them into a $3 million minimum guarantee per year, with additional earnings beyond that threshold.

“Me, personally, I wanted to resign with Barstool. I think they are the best brand for us at this point in time,” Compton said during an April 2024 podcast episode. “We end up settling on a $3 million m.g. per year. We have the upside with that, every dollar made after $3 million.”

Barstool founder Dave Portnoy addressed the speculation during a January 2025 episode of “Surviving Barstool.” “During the time of filming, I thought we were going to resign them, but going in, I knew that they were evaluating,” Portnoy said. “They had an offer. They were like, ‘We’re going to look at the world, see what it is.'”

Despite the rumors, new episodes of “Bussin’ With the Boys” continue to be released under the Barstool name, suggesting the duo remains with the company. On January 13, 2025, they dropped an episode featuring former NFL player Clay Matthews, discussing topics ranging from the Packers’ split to his familial NFL legacy.

Compton, a former NFL linebacker, played for teams including the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders before retiring in 2023. Lewan, a former offensive tackle, spent his entire NFL career with the Titans before retiring the same year due to a knee injury.

As the podcasting industry continues to grow, with companies like Spotify, SiriusXM, and Amazon investing heavily in top-tier talent, Compton and Lewan’s negotiations highlight the lucrative opportunities available to successful podcasters. Their partnership with Barstool Sports remains a key factor in their continued success, with both hosts expressing confidence in the brand’s alignment with their goals.