Home Poal11

The Man Behind The Mic: Unveiling Sage Steele's Ex-Husband, New Fiancé, And Her Evolving Personal Life

• minute read
Contents

The personal life of former ESPN host Sage Steele has always been a subject of intense public curiosity, especially as her professional career soared to new heights before her departure from the network in 2023. As of late December 2025, the narrative around her "husband" has significantly evolved, moving from a long-term, private marriage to a new, high-profile engagement that signals a fresh chapter in her life.

This article provides the most current and comprehensive details on the man who was her husband for two decades—Jonathan Bailey—and the man who is set to become her new husband—Dave Barbuto—along with a complete biographical overview of the celebrated sports broadcaster herself, ensuring all information is up-to-date and accurate as of today.

Sage Steele: A Complete Biographical Profile

Sage Marie Steele stands as one of the most recognizable and often-discussed figures in modern sports broadcasting. Her career trajectory and personal background are essential to understanding the evolution of her family life.

  • Full Name: Sage Marie Steele
  • Date of Birth: November 28, 1972
  • Age (as of 2025): 53 years old
  • Place of Birth: Panama Canal Zone, Panama
  • Nationality: American
  • Father: Gary Steele (The first Black man to play varsity football at the United States Military Academy at West Point)
  • Mother: Mona Steele
  • Siblings: Two brothers (one of whom is Chad Steele, a Vice President of Media Relations for the Baltimore Ravens)
  • Education: Indiana University (B.S. in Sports Communication, 1995)
  • Career Highlights: WSBT-TV (1995-1997), WISH-TV, Fox Sports Florida, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, ESPN (2007-2023)
  • Primary Role at ESPN: Co-host of the 12 noon (ET) edition of SportsCenter
  • First Marriage: Jonathan Bailey (m. 1999; div. 2019)
  • Current Relationship Status: Engaged to Dave Barbuto
  • Children: Three (two daughters and one son)

Jonathan Bailey: The Ex-Husband and Stay-at-Home Father

For two decades, Jonathan Bailey was the man behind the successful sports anchor. Their relationship, which began in 1993, was a foundation of Sage Steele's early career, culminating in a marriage that lasted from 1999 to 2019. The story of Jonathan Bailey is one of support and a purposeful step away from a conventional career path to raise a family.

A Collegiate Athlete and Dedicated Partner

Jonathan Bailey is a former collegiate athlete who shares a deep passion for sports with his ex-wife. He is an alumnus of Indiana University, where he earned two degrees. He also attended the University of Southern Indiana. Prior to his marriage to Steele, he worked as a personal trainer, leveraging his background in fitness and athletics.

During their marriage, Bailey made a significant life choice that allowed Steele's high-demand career at ESPN to flourish: he became a stay-at-home father. This decision was a testament to their partnership, challenging traditional gender roles and ensuring their three children—two daughters and one son—had a parent actively present in their daily lives.

Bailey's role as a dedicated parent, managing the home life while Steele traveled extensively for her SportsCenter duties, kept their family grounded amidst the pressures of a high-profile media career. This dynamic was a key part of their 20-year journey together, a period that saw Steele rise to national prominence.

The Quiet Divorce and Co-Parenting

After two decades of marriage, Sage Steele and Jonathan Bailey quietly divorced in 2019. While the specific reasons for the split remain private, the separation was handled discreetly, with court records confirming the end of the marriage. The low-key nature of their divorce mirrored the private way they had conducted their relationship for years.

Despite the end of their marital relationship, the two continue to co-parent their three children, maintaining a functional relationship focused on their family. Jonathan Bailey has reportedly continued his professional life in the realm of sports training and coaching, utilizing his athletic background and degrees.

Dave Barbuto: The New Chapter and Engagement

The most significant and recent update regarding Sage Steele's personal life is her engagement to businessman Dave Barbuto. This news marks a definitive new chapter following her divorce and her departure from ESPN in 2023, where she worked for 16 years.

Who is Dave Barbuto?

Dave Barbuto is a successful entrepreneur and corporate executive. He is best known as the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of uBreakiFix by Asurion. UBreakiFix is a major American tech repair and retail brand with a vast network of over 780 locations across the United States and Canada. His role as a CEO places him firmly in the business world, a different professional sphere from Steele’s previous husband.

Steele and Barbuto happily announced their engagement, bringing the new relationship into the public eye. The couple has been open about their journey, with Barbuto even appearing on Steele's own media platforms, such as The Sage Steele Show, where they discussed their relationship, their engagement story, and the process of planning their upcoming wedding.

The Future: A 2025 Marriage?

While details of the wedding are kept close, some public sources have indicated a potential marriage year of 2025, suggesting that this new union is imminent. This impending marriage to Dave Barbuto signifies a major transition for Steele, both personally and professionally, as she navigates her career outside of ESPN and builds a new life with her fiancé.

The relationship with Barbuto has been a refreshing public development for Steele, who has often faced intense scrutiny for her public comments and professional decisions. Her new partner, with his corporate background, offers a different dynamic than her decades-long marriage to Jonathan Bailey, the dedicated stay-at-home dad. The contrasting roles of her ex-husband and her current fiancé—one a supporter of her career through domestic stability, the other a high-profile business leader—offer a fascinating look at the evolving priorities and personal life of one of America's most prominent media personalities.

Ultimately, the story of Sage Steele's "husband" is a two-part narrative: a successful 20-year co-parenting partnership with Jonathan Bailey that allowed her career to thrive, followed by a new, public engagement to Dave Barbuto, marking a powerful and exciting new chapter in her life.

sage steele husband
sage steele husband

Detail Author:

  • Name : Kamryn Larson
  • Username : ahayes
  • Email : alycia36@feil.com
  • Birthdate : 2004-11-05
  • Address : 454 Weber Drive East Maraton, IA 34904-7591
  • Phone : 351-918-9425
  • Company : Mueller Inc
  • Job : Fitness Trainer
  • Bio : Distinctio cum sapiente ut exercitationem. Libero voluptatem asperiores recusandae velit et consectetur id. Quisquam rerum aut velit molestiae non doloribus.

Socials

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@stefanieankunding
  • username : stefanieankunding
  • bio : Optio qui quaerat est possimus. Velit veritatis occaecati eligendi ipsa.
  • followers : 6160
  • following : 1701

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/ankunding2009
  • username : ankunding2009
  • bio : Sint rerum porro placeat iure omnis odit necessitatibus. Cupiditate eaque nulla consequatur neque. Quidem blanditiis omnis aut maxime.
  • followers : 1545
  • following : 2716

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/stefanie7358
  • username : stefanie7358
  • bio : Qui repellat sit cumque nihil natus ut. Quos est modi est. Aliquam quaerat quia iusto nemo.
  • followers : 864
  • following : 2598

Random Posts