The Untold Story: 5 Key Facts About Jonathan Bailey And Sage Steele's Private 20-Year Marriage And Public Split

The relationship between Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele is a compelling study in the dynamics of a modern, high-profile marriage where conventional roles were reversed. While Sage Steele built a formidable career as one of ESPN’s most recognizable and respected anchors for over 16 years, Jonathan Bailey quietly managed their home life, serving as a dedicated stay-at-home father to their three children. Their two-decade-long partnership, which began at Indiana University and ended in a quiet 2019 divorce, has recently resurfaced in public interest, especially following Steele’s departure from ESPN in 2023 and her subsequent professional and personal new beginnings, including a recent second marriage.

As of late , the story of Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele is less about a scandalous split and more about two individuals navigating life after a long-term marriage. Bailey remains a private figure, focusing on his family, while Steele has embraced a new chapter as a podcaster and media personality. This article delves into the details of their relationship, Jonathan Bailey's supportive role, and the current status of the former power couple.

Sage Steele: Full Biography, Career Timeline, and Key Entities

Sage Marie Steele is an American television anchor and media personality who rose to prominence during her long tenure at ESPN. Her career is marked by high-profile assignments and a transition from sports journalism to independent media. To understand the context of her marriage to Jonathan Bailey, it is essential to look at the career she built, which necessitated the unconventional home dynamic.

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• Full Name: Sage Marie Steele
• Born: November 28, 1972
• Place of Birth: Panama Canal Zone, Panama (due to her father’s military service)
• Education: Graduated from Indiana University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Communication.
• Spouse (Ex): Jonathan Bailey (m. 1999; div. 2019)
• Spouse (Current): Dave Barbuto (m. 2025)
• Children: Quinn Bailey (b. 2002), Nicholas Bailey, and Evan Bailey
• Career Highlights (Pre-ESPN):
  • WSBT-TV (South Bend, Indiana) (1995–1997)
  • WISH-TV (Indianapolis)
  • WFTS-TV (Tampa)
  • Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (CSN)
• ESPN Tenure: 2007–2023
• Key ESPN Roles: Co-host of the 12 noon (ET) *SportsCenter*, host of *NBA Countdown*, and prominent on-site reporter for major events like the NBA Finals and Super Bowl.
• Post-ESPN Career: Launched her own podcast, *The Sage Steele Show*, under Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios (2023).

The Unconventional Partnership: Jonathan Bailey's Role as Stay-at-Home Dad

The marriage of Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele challenged traditional gender roles, a dynamic that became a quiet source of public interest. While Sage Steele was traveling the world covering major sporting events and appearing on national television, Jonathan Bailey took on the primary role of raising their three children.

Their story began at Indiana University, where both were students. They tied the knot in 1999, a year that marked the beginning of Steele’s rise in the competitive world of sports broadcasting. Bailey, who also graduated from Indiana University with two degrees, chose to step back from his own professional pursuits to provide stability for their growing family.

This arrangement was a conscious decision that allowed Steele to pursue her demanding career, which often required her to be away from home for extended periods. Bailey's commitment as a stay-at-home father allowed Steele to achieve the level of success she did at ESPN. Steele often spoke about the necessity of his support, once writing in a blog post about the challenges of being a working mother and the importance of her husband's role.

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The term "stay-at-home dad" often oversimplifies the effort involved. Bailey was responsible for the day-to-day logistics, emotional support, and educational needs of their children: Quinn, Nicholas, and Evan. This division of labor, though successful for two decades, highlights the significant personal sacrifices made by both partners to maintain a stable, grounded family life amidst the chaos of a public-facing career. The longevity of their marriage, despite the intense professional spotlight on Steele, is a testament to the foundation they built.

The Quiet Divorce and New Beginnings Post-2019

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele quietly divorced around 2019. Unlike many celebrity splits, the details of their separation were kept highly private, consistent with the low-key nature of their relationship. No public statements were made regarding the specific reasons for the divorce, which allowed both parties and their children to navigate the transition away from the public eye.

The separation ushered in a period of significant change for both individuals, particularly for Sage Steele, whose professional life also underwent a massive transformation in the following years. Her departure from ESPN in 2023, following a settlement with the network, marked the end of an era and the start of her new venture as an independent voice in media.

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Sage Steele’s Post-ESPN Life and Second Marriage

Steele’s career shift was immediately followed by a major personal update. She has since launched *The Sage Steele Show*, a podcast where she discusses a range of topics beyond sports, including culture, faith, and politics. This platform has given her a new level of freedom to express her views.

In a major update to her personal life, Sage Steele recently married businessman Dave Barbuto. The news of their wedding, which took place in the latter half of 2025, confirmed her new chapter. Barbuto, the CEO of uBreakiFix, is a new figure in her life, and this marriage signifies a complete personal and professional reset for the former ESPN anchor.

Jonathan Bailey’s Continued Privacy

Jonathan Bailey, on the other hand, has maintained his commitment to privacy. He continues to focus on raising their three children and has largely stayed out of the media spotlight. There is very little public information about his current professional or personal life, which is a clear indication of his preference for a private existence away from the celebrity world that defined his ex-wife’s career. His commitment to his children, Quinn, Nicholas, and Evan, remains the most public aspect of his identity.

The Legacy of the Bailey-Steele Family Dynamic

The relationship between Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele, though concluded, leaves a lasting impression on discussions about career, family, and gender roles. Their story highlights the necessity of a strong, committed partnership when one spouse pursues an intensely demanding career.

The numerous entities that formed their world—from the halls of Indiana University to the studios of ESPN and the quiet life of a stay-at-home parent—all contributed to a unique family structure. The current status of both Jonathan Bailey and Sage Steele shows two people successfully moving forward on divergent paths: Bailey in his chosen privacy and Steele in her new, independent media career and second marriage. Their mutual focus on co-parenting their three children remains the enduring link between them, making their story a complex and respectful example of life after a long-term, high-stakes marriage. The continued public interest in Jonathan Bailey is a testament to the quiet power of the supportive partner behind the public figure.