ESPN has announced that Shannon Sharpe will not be returning to the network after the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and media analyst parted ways with the company, as reported on Wednesday. This development arises less than two weeks after Sharpe settled a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and battery brought by a former partner.
Sharpe, 57, had a multi-year contract with ESPN signed in 2024 but has not appeared on the network since the lawsuit was filed in April. Initially, Sharpe characterized the lawsuit as a “shakedown” in an Instagram video, alleging that the attorney representing the woman, Tony Buzbee, has a pattern of targeting Black men. Later, he described the relationship with the plaintiff, who is referred to as “Jane Doe,” as “100% consensual.”
In the weeks following the lawsuit’s filing, Sharpe announced on social media that he would be temporarily stepping aside from his ESPN responsibilities to focus on his family and address the allegations against him. He expressed his intention to return at the beginning of the upcoming NFL preseason.
On Wednesday evening, Sharpe briefly commented on his separation from ESPN, requesting that further discussions wait until Monday. As NFL training camps commenced earlier this month, the league is set to kick off its first preseason game on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, as part of the Hall of Fame celebrations.
The lawsuit, in which the plaintiff was seeking $50 million for various damages, was dismissed on July 18, with Buzbee stating on social media that a mutually agreeable resolution had been reached. He confirmed that all matters were satisfactorily addressed, allowing the lawsuit to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the same claim cannot be refiled in the future. Notably, no criminal charges were brought against Sharpe.
Sharpe, who boasts three Super Bowl victories and eight Pro Bowl selections, has also made a name for himself in the media industry. Following his tenure on FS1’s “Undisputed,” where he was known for spirited debates with Skip Bayless, he transitioned to ESPN to engage in discussions with Stephen A. Smith on “First Take.”
Although absent from ESPN since April, Sharpe has remained active in the podcast arena, co-hosting shows with former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Reports from Front Office Sports indicated that Sharpe was in negotiations for a podcast deal valued at approximately $100 million.
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