ESPN Cuts Ties with Shannon Sharpe After Lawsuit Settlement

Shannon Sharpe won’t be returning to ESPN — and the network has made it official.

Two weeks ago, NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe settled a $50 million civil lawsuit filed by an ex‑girlfriend accusing him of sexual battery.

Now, ESPN has decided to cut ties with Sharpe for good.

According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Sharpe — who had been a regular on First Take — is no longer with the network. The settlement was announced earlier this month by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented Sharpe’s accuser.

Sharpe had strongly denied the allegations and initially stepped away from ESPN duties, saying he intended to return. But after months off the air — he hasn’t appeared on ESPN since April — that comeback won’t be happening.

With ESPN officially moving on, Sharpe’s future in sports media remains uncertain as he navigates the fallout from the lawsuit.