Shannon Sharpe’s time at ESPN has come to an abrupt end. Just two weeks after settling a $50 million civil lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of rape and abusive behavior, ESPN has cut ties with the Pro Football Hall of Famer and former “First Take” analyst, according to multiple reports confirmed by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
Sharpe, 57, had been absent from ESPN since late April, when the lawsuit first became public. At the time, he released a statement calling the allegations a “shakedown” and claimed the relationship in question was fully consensual.
Despite initially planning to return for NFL training camp coverage, Sharpe will not be coming back. ESPN has declined to comment publicly, and no internal memo or official release has been issued.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” alleged that Sharpe raped her twice, once in October 2024 and again in January 2025. The two reportedly met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 19.
In addition to the sexual assault allegations, the plaintiff claimed that Sharpe recorded intimate moments without consent and engaged in manipulative and threatening behavior throughout their nearly two-year relationship.
Sharpe vehemently denied all accusations and maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. His attorney, Lanny Davis, disclosed that Sharpe had previously offered $10 million to settle the matter before the lawsuit was filed, an offer that was rejected.
The case was ultimately settled out of court, with the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, announcing on July 18 that the matter had been “mutually resolved.” The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the accuser cannot refile it.
While no criminal charges were filed, the civil nature of the case and the high-profile status of the defendant placed significant pressure on ESPN. Sharpe had been one of the network’s biggest draws, especially since joining First Take as a regular debate partner to Stephen A. Smith. Prior to that, he had become a household name during his run with Skip Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed.
At the time of the lawsuit, Sharpe was reportedly in advanced talks for a podcast deal rumored to be worth as much as $100 million. His shows “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap” had developed massive followings, with the former recently producing high-profile interviews that routinely went viral on social media.
It’s unclear how the fallout from this lawsuit will affect those ventures or whether those distribution deals will be impacted.
This isn’t the first time ESPN has distanced itself from a high-profile personality following legal issues, but Sharpe’s departure leaves a noticeable hole in the network’s NFL coverage and daily programming.
Though he maintains his innocence and is not facing jail time, Shannon Sharpe’s legacy as a sports media personality has taken a major blow. His post-playing career was riding a wave of popularity and lucrative deals. Now, it stands clouded by controversy, allegations, and a swift end to his ESPN chapter.
