The Shannon Sharpe era at ESPN is over.
ESPN has parted ways with contributor Shannon Sharpe, as first reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, ending a two-year run in which the former FS1 “Undisputed” host served as the highest-profile foil for Stephen A. Smith on “First Take.”
Sharpe had not been on ESPN since April, when he was sued for sexual assault and took a leave of absence from the network. At the time, he said he planned to return by the start of the NFL preseason, which begins Thursday. The lawsuit was settled earlier this month, with his accuser’s lawyer Tony Buzbee saying that the sides had agreed to “acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship.”
The resolution was evidently not enough for ESPN, which previously parted ways with “First Take” contributor Michael Irvin for allegations that were far less serious.
Sharpe, like Irvin before him, was the best-known of the rotation of personalities playing opposite Smith on “First Take” — filling a role that was once occupied by permanent co-hosts Max Kellerman and previously Skip Bayless. Sharpe and Bayless paired together on the FS1 debate show “Undisputed” from 2016-23, a run that transformed Sharpe’s broadcasting career from traditional NFL analyst to multi-sport pundit.
Though he was less than two years into his ESPN career, Sharpe was seemingly part of the network’s long-term strategy. He struck a reported four-year contract extension last year and was said to be under consideration to host a potential show in the 5 PM ET slot once occupied by “Around the Horn.”
Before his career shift, Sharpe worked for CBS as an NFL analyst on “The NFL Today” from 2004-13. During that period, he also took a leave of absence due to sexual assault claims, though that situation was resolved quickly enough that he missed little if any time.
If Sharpe is no longer going to be a regular sight on sports television, he is likely to remain in the public eye by way of his “Club Shay Shay” podcast — which continued to air new episodes during his leave of absence from ESPN.
