ESPN Fires Shannon Sharpe Less Than Two Weeks After Settling Misconduct Lawsuit

ESPN cuts Shannon Sharpe who was rumored to sign a $100 million extension earlier this year.

ESPN Fires Shannon Sharpe Less Than Two Weeks After Settling Misconduct Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe fired (Image via IMAGO)

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Shannon Sharpe’s days of critiquing NFL teams while sitting alongside Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Clark on First Take are over. On Wednesday, ESPN announced that the network fired Sharpe with immediate effect.

Regulars of the show already know about Sharpe’s absence. The Hall of Fame tight end stopped appearing on national television after a woman (his rumored ex-girlfriend) brought forward serious allegations against him in April. She filed a lawsuit demanding $50 million as compensation.

Sharpe took time off for a prolonged legal battle against the woman’s influential attorney, Tony Buzbee. He viewed Buzbee’s actions as racially motivated and vowed to see the end of it.

On July 18, after nearly three months of court battles, Buzbee announced the settlement of the lawsuit.

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

Buzbee wrote

However, Sharpe remained absent from ESPN’s early morning football show. On Wednesday, July 30, less than two weeks after the settlement, the network fired Shannon Sharpe, according to TMZ and The Athletic.

Will Shannon Sharpe be in a financial pinch after ESPN’s firing?

Sharpe’s popularity reached its absolute peak with his witty hot takes as the antagonist of Stephen A. on the network. ESPN reportedly intended to strike while the iron was hot by tying the 57-year-old down to a $100 million contract extension.

ESPN Fires Shannon Sharpe Less Than Two Weeks After Settling Se*al Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe (Image via IMAGO)

The lawsuit bound the network’s hands, forcing it to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. However, it was getting increasingly clear that the brass quietly dropped the proposal while Sharpe fought his legal battle. His expulsion put the final nail in the coffin.

Sharpe may no longer appear on TV, but fans can still catch him sharing his views on sports, politics, or any big topic on his two podcasts: Nightcap and Club Shay Shay. He has generated an estimated $30 million from the podcasts.

On a recent episode of Nightcap, Sharpe gave his two notes on the Indianapolis Colts quarterback situation. Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are competing for the starting QB job.

Sharpe feels the former Giants and Vikings player has an edge over the third-year athlete.

They showed [AR’s] numbers from the time he was a quarterback in high school, 9th grade, 10th, 11th, and at Florida. He ain’t never been a marksman. He’s a 40-50% completion guy. His completion percentage is lower than [Tim] Tebow’s. Tebow’s is 47%. He was at 48% last year… If you’re not at least 60% [in today’s game], you’re not good. It’s not like it was, I remember when like 55%-57% was good because of the way they play.

Head coach Shane Steichen will wait until the end of the preseason to pick his starter for the 2025 campaign.

Before joining ESPN and creating his two podcast shows, Sharpe had a successful run opposite Skip Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed. He left the show in 2023 to sign for rivals ESPN.

The Denver Broncos drafted Sharpe, where he won two Super Bowls before moving to the Baltimore Ravens, where he won his third and final ring. Sharpe played 14 years in the NFL, racking up 815 receptions for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns.

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