Over the last several months, Shannon Sharpe has appeared on the Monday and Tuesday editions of First Take on ESPN as the show continues to experience ratings growth. April 2024 marked the 21st consecutive month of year-over-year growth for the morning program, which regularly includes featured commentator Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim. The show has utilized a “Stephen A. against the world” format since the departure of Max Kellerman in which a variety of contributors appear every week.
Sharpe, who also founded Shay Shay Media and hosts both the Club Shay Shay and Nightcap podcasts in collaboration with The Volume, is reportedly on the verge of signing a multi-year contract extension with ESPN. News of Sharpe’s potential extension, which is believed to be a four-year deal, was first reported by Richard Deitsch of The Athletic.
Under the new contract, Sharpe would continue to appear on First Take regularly and could also include him being implemented in NFL programming. This follows a seven-year stint as one of the original members of Undisputed on FS1 alongside host Skip Bayless. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and three-time Super Bowl champion played 14 seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.
A deal has yet to be signed, but a source has informed Deitsch that indications are it will be completed soon. Sharpe had previously inked a contract extension with ESPN to continue appearing on First Take on Mondays and Tuesdays through the end of the NBA regular season. Additionally, ESPN presented a live show from Sharpe’s alma mater, Savannah State University, where he achieved an illustrious collegiate career on the Tigers football team and had his jersey retired. Sharpe has also taken part in live shows from the University of Colorado Boulder and NRG Stadium for the CFP National Championship.
Sharpe has previously attributed his weekly spot on First Take to Smith wanting to have him on the show. During an appearance on Club Shay Shay, Smith explained that one of the reasons he wanted to implement him on the show was so the industry could not wonder what he may have done wrong.
