Just weeks following a civil lawsuit filed against former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe being settled outside of court, ESPN has made a decision on Sharpe’s future at the network. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand was first to report that ESPN has decided to cut ties with Shannon Sharpe and his role on First Take.
Sharpe has not been seen on ESPN since April, when he decided to step away from the network to focus on the civil lawsuit filed by a woman who claims that the former NFL star sexually assaulted, harassed, and committed battery against her.
ESPN has confirmed the report to Barrett Media but did not provide comment.
Sharpe was just a year into a multi-year extension with ESPN, which he signed in 2024 to expand his role on First Take following his departure from FOX Sports and Undisputed with Skip Bayless. The 57-year old football hall of famer has remained to produce and distribute his Shay Shay Media podcasts including NightCap and Club Shay Shay while remaining off of ESPN.
Sharpe denied the allegations placed against him back in April through his representation and several social media posts. Nevertheless, Sharpe decided to step away after making a statement on his social media accounts in April.
“My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe noted. “At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.”
In response, ESPN released a statement in April following the posts made by Sharpe.
“This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away,” said ESPN via a statement.
There had been much speculation about Sharpe’s future on ESPN following his voluntary departure. First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith told the BigBoyTV podcast in May that he knew Sharpe couldn’t stay on the air following the lawsuit being filed, but was hopeful for an outcome that allowed Sharpe to return to the network. Former ESPN commentator Dan Le Batard noted in June that Sharpe would likely not return to the network.
“I think we can reasonably assume that,” Le Batard said in June. “Shannon Sharpe would like it to look like he has a chance to return. I don’t know that you can be Disney and allow any of what happened there.”
Sharpe has not publicly commented on the lawsuit nor his departure from ESPN.
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