Shannon Sharpe's ESPN Run Ends After Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed

NFL Hall of Famer and sports media personality Shannon Sharpe has officially parted ways with ESPN, just weeks after settling a lawsuit in which his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape.

The 57-year-old former tight end has been off the air since late April, when the lawsuit was first filed.

At the time, Shannon Sharpe told fans he intended to return at the start of NFL training camp. ESPN has declined to comment on his departure.

Sharpe's exit marks the end of a short but high-profile run at ESPN.

Since retiring from the NFL, he has built a second career as a media fixture, first as an analyst and later as a debate show host. He rose to mainstream prominence on FS1's "Undisputed," where his fiery back-and-forths with Skip Bayless turned him into one of sports television's biggest personalities.

After leaving "FS1" in 2023, Sharpe joined ESPN's "First Take," appearing twice weekly alongside Stephen A. Smith.

The news was first reported by The Athletic.

Even with ESPN no longer in the picture, Shannon Sharpe still has other platforms.

His podcasts "Club Shay Shay" and "Nightcap" with former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco remain popular, distributed by The Volume.

Earlier this year, Front Office Sports reported that Sharpe was close to finalizing a blockbuster podcasting deal potentially worth as much as $100 million.

As for the lawsuit, attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented Shannon Sharpe's ex-girlfriend, announced on July 18 that the case had been dismissed following a settlement. He did not disclose the terms of the agreement but noted that the matter had been resolved "satisfactorily" for all parties.

"After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution," Buzbee shared in a statement on X. "All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice."

In an April statement posted to social media, Shannon Sharpe forcefully denied the allegations, insisting the relationship was "100% consensual."

He also assured fans at the time that he would return to ESPN ahead of the NFL preseason.

According to court filings, the woman first met Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym in 2023, when she was 20 years old. Their relationship lasted nearly two years before unraveling, with the lawsuit alleging that Sharpe raped her in October 2024 and again in January of this year.

The documents further claimed he became increasingly controlling, verbally abusive, and violent, with the 57-year-old allegedly threatening to kill her.

Sharpe blasted the case as a "shakedown," alleging that the high-profile attorney has a history of going after prominent Black figures like Jay-Z and Deshaun Watson.

But Buzbee, one of the most recognizable trial lawyers in the country, pushed back on that narrative in a new interview with Esquire. "I guess a bunch of old white men could say I'm targeting them, and a bunch of multinational corporations could say I'm targeting them as well," he fired back.

Buzbee went on to clarify that Shannon Sharpe wasn't someone he ever sought out. "I didn't wake up one morning and say, 'I want to sue Shannon Sharpe.' He has no relevance in my life," he said. "I actually think he's very entertaining when he yells and screams and talks about sports that he's not involved in... but if I think it's a legitimate case, then I pursue it. And I think this is worth my time."

The Texas-based lawyer has built a reputation and has been linked to high-profile cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, though a separate lawsuit filed against him by Jay-Z earlier this year was dismissed.

Shannon Sharpe has not publicly commented on the settlement or his departure from ESPN.