Former NFL star and media personality Shannon Sharpe has been fired by ESPN less than two weeks after settling a $50 million civil lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, according to The Athletic.
Sharpe, who had been off the air since April with plans to return for the upcoming football season, will no longer appear on ESPN programming following the legal resolution.
The lawsuit, filed in Clark County, Nevada, accused Sharpe of sexual assault, battery, and emotional abuse, citing multiple alleged nonconsensual encounters in the accuser’s Las Vegas apartment. The civil complaint also included claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Sharpe denied the allegations when the lawsuit was filed, describing the claims as a “shakedown.” He asserted that the relationship was consensual and took place between 2024 and 2025.
This isn’t the first time Sharpe has faced controversy. In late 2024, he drew attention for inadvertently livestreaming audio of a sexual encounter on Instagram, an incident he later apologized for.
Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, spent 14 seasons in the NFL — 12 of them with the Denver Broncos — and won three Super Bowls. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends in league history, he transitioned into broadcasting after his retirement in 2003 and became one of sports media’s most outspoken and recognizable voices.
