Stephen A. Smith isn’t letting go of a Shannon Sharpe reunion. He made that clear again on Monday’s Stephen A. Smith Show.
What We Know: Sharpe stepped away from ESPN in April 2025. At the time, a $50 million lawsuit had accused him of sexual assault and battery. He settled that lawsuit in July 2025, with terms undisclosed. On Monday, Smith used his own show to make a direct, personal appeal for Sharpe’s return.
What They Said: Stephen A. Smith (via The Stephen A. Smith Show): “You know how much love I got for you. I miss the hell out of you, man. Doing football and all of that stuff. Damn it, it ain’t the same without you. I’m gonna be straight up and down about it. In my perfect world, I’m getting you back. You know, I ain’t gonna stop. I ain’t gonna rest. I’m gonna keep trying to get you back. You know how I roll, and I’m gonna keep that going.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether ESPN will act on Smith’s appeal remains unclear. Meanwhile, Smith hasn’t laid out any specific plan or timeline for a reunion.
What It Means: Smith’s tone marked a shift from strategic talk to a personal, emotional appeal. However, ESPN’s stance on Sharpe hasn’t publicly changed. Therefore, the path back to First Take still isn’t clear. For now, Smith’s message signals he isn’t giving up. Whether or not ESPN will budge on their stance regarding Sharpe is yet to be seen.
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