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Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, ending the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s brief but high-profile run as a commentator on the network’s First Take sports-talk program. The decision comes less than two weeks after Sharpe settled a lawsuit filed by a former girlfriend who accused him of rape, allegations he forcefully denied.
The Athletic was first to report the move on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. ESPN declined to comment publicly, and no formal announcement has been made.
Sharpe, 57, had not appeared on ESPN since late April, shortly after the suit was filed in Nevada. At the time, he called the accusations “false and disruptive” and said he expected to return in time for the start of NFL training camps. Instead, ESPN quietly opted to move on.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, sought $50m in damages for what she described as “pain and suffering, psychological and emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation”. Sharpe characterized the claims as a “shakedown”, maintaining that their sexual relationship had been consensual.
The suit was dismissed with prejudice on 18 July following a private settlement. The woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, announced the resolution in a post on X, writing, “All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed.” A dismissal with prejudice means the same claim cannot be refiled in court. No criminal charges were filed against Sharpe.
A three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro, Sharpe retired in 2003 as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Since leaving football, he has become one of the most recognizable personalities in sports media, first as an analyst for CBS, then as co-host of Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed alongside Skip Bayless.
After departing FS1 in 2023, Sharpe joined First Take as a twice-weekly sparring partner for Stephen A Smith. He also hosts two popular podcasts, Club Shay Shay and Nightcap with Ocho, the latter alongside former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco. Both shows are currently distributed by The Volume, though that agreement is set to expire at the end of August.
According to Front Office Sports and the Athletic, Sharpe was in talks for a major podcasting deal – potentially worth up to $100m – before the lawsuit became public. The status of those negotiations remains unclear.
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