Shannon Sharpe, the celebrated former NFL tight end and prominent sports analyst, has announced he will temporarily step aside from his duties at ESPN following a serious legal matter. The 56-year-old football great, known for his tenure with the Denver Broncos and his popular podcast “Club Shay Shay,” is facing a $50 million lawsuit that alleges he raped a woman in Las Vegas.
A third woman, in Nevada, filed suit on Sunday. She alleges that she first encountered Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym when she was 19 years old in 2023. She claims they were in a “rocky natured consensual relationship” for almost two years. At some point in early 2015, she alleges that he raped her on two occasions—in October and then again in January. Sharpe has strongly disputed these claims and provided a $10 million out-of-court settlement to put the issue to rest.
Given that context, it’s no surprise that Sharpe chose to leave his ESPN position. And last but not least, he set the expectation that he would put his family first. He intends to address the so-called “false and disruptive allegations against me.”
“At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties,” – Shannon Sharpe
Sharpe hopes to be back on the radio by Thursday, September 4. The timing could not be better, as fiscal years often align with the starting whistle on the NFL preseason. He has had a productive second career as a football analyst for CBS, Fox Sports, and ESPN. Through his insights and analysis, he’s created an incredibly loyal following.
An ESPN spokesperson on Sharpe’s decision, saying they fully supported his decision to step away at such a difficult time.
“This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away,” – ESPN spokesperson
Sharpe has previously called for the full release of a sex tape related to the case. In addition, he is demanding the release of the video, which reportedly shows the assault. As the situation continues to develop, Sharpe stands ready not only to defend his reputation but confront these very serious allegations.