NFL legend wanted to delay news of ESPN firing after settling rape lawsuit
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The NFL great-turned-broadcaster shared his feelings about the ouster, which was reported Wednesday by The Athletic, on the latest episode of his Nightcap podcast.
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Sharpe opened up the episode by revealing he knew that he officially was done at ESPN since earlier this week, but he was hoping the news wouldn't be made public until after this weekend for a very selfless reason.
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This weekend his brother, Sterling Sharpe, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Shannon didn't want to overshadow his achievement.
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Unfortunately for him, that did not happen.
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'I found out this information a little earlier in the week and really the only thing that I really asked is, '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,'' Sharpe said. 'I said, 'This coming out will overshadow everything he's worked his entire life for.' And, unfortunately, it didn't happen that way.'
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Shannon Sharpe starts off his NightCap podcast tonight addressing being fired by ESPN🚨
"I will not be returning to ESPN, I found out this information a little earlier in the week... I just wish this thing couldve waited until Monday"
Shannon did not want the news to overshadow… https://t.co/kBX4vmgXS4 pic.twitter.com/JEfWp7XAOh
— SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) July 31, 2025
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Sharpe said he 'profusely' apologized to his brother about the situation.
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The 57-year-old Denver Broncos great was rocked by the bombshell $50-million civil lawsuit in April, in which it was alleged that he committed assault, sexual assault, sexual battery and battery.
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The unidentified plaintiff accused Sharpe of sexually assaulting her several times beginning in late 2024.
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Sharpe denied 'all allegations of coercion or misconduct' in a statement through his legal counsel, also sharing intimate details of the relationship and graphic messages sent to him from the accuser, according to his lawyer, Lanny J. Davis.
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WARNING: Explicit sexual details
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Among the messages in the statement, the woman — who was only identified as Jane Doe in the court filing — allegedly told Sharpe that she wanted him to 'put a dog collar around my neck' and 'tie me up and do bad things to me,' while also asking for money to come and visit him.
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'The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios,' Davis said.
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