Shannon Sharpe parts ways with ESPN following sexual assault lawsuit settlement

After taking leave in April amid legal controversy, Sharpe quietly parts ways with ESPN following lawsuit settlement.

Former NFL star and ESPN commentator Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN following the recent settlement of a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him, Variety confirmed. The decision marks the end of Sharpe’s role on ESPN’s “First Take,” where he had been a recurring presence alongside host Stephen A. Smith.

Sharpe initially announced a temporary leave from the network in April 2025 to address the legal matter. In a public statement shared at the time, Sharpe maintained that the relationship in question was “100% consensual” and labeled the lawsuit “false and disruptive.” ESPN supported his decision to step away, stating, “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”

The lawsuit, filed by an unnamed Nevada woman under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” accused Sharpe of rape and threats during a two-year relationship. She sought $50 million in damages. Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis, dismissed the allegations as “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe,” calling the claims “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations.”

The two parties reached a confidential settlement following what the plaintiff’s attorney Tony Buzbee described as “protracted and respectful” negotiations. The case was officially dismissed with prejudice on July 18, meaning it cannot be refiled.

Sharpe, 57, joined ESPN’s “First Take” in 2023 and had recently signed a new agreement in 2024 to expand his appearances, typically hosting segments on Mondays and Tuesdays. In addition to his ESPN work, he also hosts the popular “Club Shay Shay” podcast.

Sharpe rose to prominence as an NFL analyst after a Hall of Fame career with the Denver Broncos and later became a fixture on Fox Sports’ “Undisputed” alongside Skip Bayless. Neither ESPN nor Sharpe’s representatives have provided additional comment on his departure.