Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN after he settled a lawsuit for a reported $23 million. ESPN has parted ways with the NFL Hall of Famer, according to The Athletic.com.
The news comes after ESPN announced Shannon signed a $100 million contract extension with the sports network.
Shannon played 14 years in the NFL before joining ESPN and co-hosting “First Take.” He also hosted an NFL-affiliated podcast, “Club Shay Shay” and he co-hosted Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed” talk show with Skip Bayless.
But Shannon fell from grace after a woman accused him of abuse and xesual battery in a lawsuit filed in Nevada in April. The woman, later identified as Gabby Zuniga, wanted $50 million for her pain and suffering.
She was represented by prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee. The settlement was announced earlier this month. As part of the settlement, Shannon admitted he xesually assaulted Zuniga multiple times.
In April, Shannon announced he was stepping away from ESPN to spend more time with his family.
“I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason,” he wrote on X (Twitter) on April 24.
However, his colleague Stephen A. Smith reported that ESPN asked Shannon to turn in his parking pass and employee ID permanently. “I’m going to miss him,” Stephen said at the time.
