Today is nearly one year to the day Shannon Sharpe departed FS1 after he had worked on the morning debate show Undisputed for seven years across from Skip Bayless. Over the summer, he weighed his options and ended up signing a content partnership with The Volume that included bringing his popular Club Shay Shay podcast to the platform and eventually led to the launch of Nightcap with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Additionally, Sharpe signed with ESPN to appear on episodes of First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on Monday and Tuesday throughout the NFL season.
Within his new endeavors, he has generated significant engagement across multiple platforms and provided consumers with compelling and entertaining content. Sharpe has now inked a multiyear contract extension with ESPN that will result in expanding his role on First Take and continuing to contribute to the show’s unprecedented growth trajectory.
Sharpe officially joined First Take last August and has been a part of several special editions of the show, including live broadcasts from NRG Stadium for the National Championship Game, the University of Colorado Boulder during the college football season and Savannah State University, his alma mater, as a part of the show’s HBCU Homecoming. Smith, who serves as a featured commentator and executive producer of First Take, advocated for Sharpe to join ESPN last year and has implemented him within the rotation of analysts that debate him on the show.
“Shannon Sharpe has been an incredible addition to the First Take team, enhancing the show’s dynamic with his engaging presence and insightful commentary,” David Roberts, head of event and studio production at ESPN, said in a statement. “Shannon’s chemistry with Stephen A. Smith has elevated our debates and been another key reason First Take is the premier destination for morning sports discussion.”
Last month, First Take attained its most-viewed May in the history of the show and a concurrent 22nd straight month of year-over-year growth. As part of his new contract with ESPN, Sharpe will have an expanded role across other ESPN programming that will be announced at a later time.
“Being a part of this family has been a blessing,” Sharpe said in a statement. “Everything about this relationship with ESPN, Stephen A., and First Take, has been tremendous. I look forward to expanding my role and showing more of the world what I have to offer. The show goes on!”
