Shannon Sharpe Regrets ESPN Exit News Overshadowing Brother Sterling’s Hall of Fame Induction

Shannon Sharpe wanted ESPN to announce his firing, the week after his brother was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Shannon Sharpe Regrets ESPN Exit News Overshadowing Brother Sterling’s Hall of Fame Induction

Shannon Sharpe (Image via IMAGO)

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Fans patiently waited for Nightcap Podcast to start on Wednesday to hear from Shannon Sharpe about his expulsion from ESPN. Sharpe calmly said that he was ‘at peace’ with the network’s decision to fire him. However, he would have preferred it if the brass had waited until Monday to announce the news.

Sharpe sounded upset, not because he no longer had a job at the global leader in sports, but because the network chose to fire him during his older brother’s special week.

Guys, could we wait until Monday? My brother’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I really want it to be about him and I want it to be about my family.

Sterling Sharpe, who is three years older than his younger brother Shannon, played seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers. He was a 3x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowler, led the league in receptions three times, and twice in receiving touchdowns.

The 60-year-old’s NFL career was cut short due to a devastating neck injury. After years of waiting, Canton finally announced in February this year that Sterling Sharpe will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July.

So the moment holds a significant emotional attachment for Shannon. Unfortunately, he fears his firing from ESPN will likely overshadow his brother’s Hall of Fame induction:

This coming out will overshadow everything he’s worked his entire life for.’ And, unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way.

Sharpe revealed that he profusely apologized for the development.

Why did ESPN fire Shannon Sharpe?

While the network did not specify any reasons, it’s widely believed that the $50 million lawsuit filed against Sharpe by his ex-girlfriend played a big part in the firing. Sharpe refrained from elaborating on that front.

Shannon Sharpe Regrets ESPN Exit News Overshadowing Brother Sterling’s Hall of Fame Induction
Shannon Sharpe (Image via IMAGO)

In April, an OnlyFans model, Gabriella Zuniga, accused the three-time Super Bowl winner of forcing himself on her. The lawsuit read as follows:

A woman can say ‘yes’ to consensual s**ual relations with a man ninety-nine times, but when she says ‘no’ even once, that ‘no’ means no. Defendant Shannon Sharpe, a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, completely fails to understand this basic concept. After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff—a woman more than thirty years younger than he-and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and r***d Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no’.

Sharpe tried his best to defend himself. He accused Zuniga’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of being racially motivated in his pursuit.

Sharpe slowly distanced himself from ESPN to fight the legal battle. He stopped appearing on Get Up.

Midway through July, Buzbee announced that the lawsuit was settled after both parties acknowledged that their relationship was consensual. According to reports, Sharpe paid $23 million to settle the lawsuit.

In less than two weeks, ESPN fired Sharpe from its network.

It doesn’t mean Sharpe has zero work in his hands. It’s quite the opposite. With ESPN no longer in the picture, he can focus more on growing his two podcasts: Club Shay Shay (4.03 million subs) and Nightcap (1.78 million subs).

Sharpe was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1990. He played a decade in Denver, winning two Super Bowls before moving to the Baltimore Ravens, where he won another before returning to Denver for a second stint. Sharpe finished his career in 2003 with 815 catches for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns.

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