Shannon Sharpe, the former NFL star and co-host of ESPN’s First Take, is no longer with the network, a source told CNN.
His exit comes less than two weeks after he settled a lawsuit with a woman who accused him of rape.
According to the BBC, the woman who accused Shannon Sharpe said she was 19 when they met in 2023 at a gym in Los Angeles. In a legal filing, she described their relationship as “rocky but consensual” and claimed Sharpe was aggressive. She also said he raped her as recently as January.
The case was settled on July 18, though the terms were not made public. However, the woman had originally been seeking $50 million.
On Wednesday, the 56-year-old said he was very thankful for his time at ESPN but admitted the timing of his departure wasn’t ideal.
“I found out this information a little earlier in the week, and really the only thing that I really asked is like, ‘Guys, could we wait until Monday? My brother’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I really want it to be about him and I want it to be about my family,’” Sharpe made the comments on the “Nightcap” podcast, where he appears alongside former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Joe Johnson.
Shannon Sharpe’s younger brother, Sterling Sharpe, a former wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Shannon said on the podcast that he apologized deeply to his brother for possibly taking attention away from the big moment. He said Sterling accepted the apology and told him he was his “hero” and “role model.”
“ESPN did what they felt they needed to do, and I’m at peace with that,” Sharpe said according to CNN. “But I just wish this thing could have waited until Monday, because I hate the fact that I’ve overshadowed my brother. The first two brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and this is what the headline’s going to be for the next couple of days.”
Shannon Sharpe is a former NFL tight end and a prominent sports media personality. Born on June 26, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, he rose to fame playing for the Denver Broncos and later the Baltimore Ravens. Over his 14-season NFL career, Sharpe became known for his athleticism, charisma, and trash talk, earning three Super Bowl rings and eight Pro Bowl selections. He retired as one of the most accomplished tight ends in NFL history.
After football, Sharpe transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a popular analyst on CBS’s The NFL Today. He later co-hosted FS1’s Undisputed alongside Skip Bayless, where his bold opinions and witty comebacks made him a fan favorite. In 2023, he joined ESPN’s First Take, appearing regularly with Stephen A. Smith. Sharpe is also the creator and host of the Club Shay Shay podcast, where he interviews athletes, entertainers, and public figures.
