Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing is back for a third season of intense survival challenges. But one controversial competitor will not be returning to the show. 

Jeff Zausch appeared on the first two seasons of the Naked and Afraid spinoff, which brings together top participants from past seasons of the reality show to compete for a $100,000 cash prize. Despite two heartbreaking eliminations that kept him from his goal of winning the coveted “Last One Standing” title, Jeff won’t be getting a third chance at victory. He is not part of the season 3 cast, which Discovery Channel announced on April 18. 

Jeff Zausch hinted he might retire from ‘Naked and Afraid’  

Jeff is a hardcore Naked and Afraid vet, having logged 286 days in the wild on multiple challenges since his first apeparance in 2014. (He also appeared on USA Network’s Snake in the Grass.)

The Idaho survivalist came into the inaugural season of Last One Standing determined to take home the show’s top prize. His aggressive style of play led to clashes with the other contestants in the franchise’s first-ever competition series. But it was a last-stage failure in a fire-starting challenge that ultimately knocked him out of the running. 

Jeff returned for his “revenge tour” in season 2. But once again, he was stymied by a friction fire challenge and failed to advance to the final three in the dramatic finale episode. 

After his second elimination, Jeff said his time on Naked and Afraid had come to an end. 

“Two hundred and eighty-six days in my Naked and Afraid career,” he said. “And you know, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. This journey is complete for me. And I’m coming home for one last time. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me for a decade. I’m gonna put some clothes on now and get a real job.”

But after the finale aired, Jeff walked back his vow to retire. 

“My journey is not yet complete,” he wrote in a September 2024 Instagram post. “This story has not been told in its entirety! There is still more meat on this mother f#%$g bone!! I didn’t come this far, to only come this far. See you all soon…”

Jeff will host a ‘Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing’ podcast 

Despite his vow to return, Jeff isn’t part of the Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Season 3 cast, which includes notables alums such as Matt Wright, Laura Zerra, Max Djenohan, and Ky Furneaux. 

Though he won’t be a part of this season’s contest – which is taking place in Australia – Jeff will be following the new episodes on his podcast. 

“Whether you love me or love to root against me… it seems many are bummed that I won’t be joining LOS3,” he commented on Instagram after Discovery shared the cast list. “BUT… I’m announcing today that I will be holding a weekly podcast on Monday nights following each new episode! Tune in to see how I really feel and who I’m pulling for this season.”

Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Season 3 premieres Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m ET/PT on Discovery Channel. 

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