Former NFL tight end and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe said Thursday he is taking a temporary leave of absence from his ESPN duties while he confronts with what he called false allegations in a $50 million civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman, and Only Fans model, who claims he raped and threatened her.
Sharpe said in a statement that he would return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason. The first preseason game is scheduled to kick off on July 31.
“I will be devoting this time to my family and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me,” Sharpe said, adding: “I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues.”
Attorneys filed the lawsuit Sunday in Clark County, Nevada, for a woman listed in court documents as Jane Doe. The lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of implementing physical force on her and causing emotional distress.
The woman initially met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20 and a nearly two-year relationship ensued, according to court documents. Sharpe, 56-years-of-age, is accused of raping the woman in October 2024 and again in January, the documents said.
On Monday, Sharpe had posted a statement from his lawyer on social media saying the relationship was consensual and calling the lawsuit a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for millions of dollars.
Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end who played on two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens over 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2011.
At the time of Sharpe’s retirement, he was the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), yards receiving (10,060) and touchdowns (62). Those records have since been eclipsed.
Sharpe has been a favorite on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 after seven years where he worked alongside veteran journalist and sports commentator co-host Skip Bayless in 2016. The pairing of Sharpe and Bayless was gold for TV ratings, but their on-air chemistry turned sour.
Embed from Getty ImagesTensions between Sharpe and Bayless escalated and spilled over onto the broadcast in January 2023 following Bayless’ controversial tweet about Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills’ Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals that was subsequently canceled. Sharpe abruptly failed to show up for work at “Undisputed” the next morning, but confronted Bayless when he returned.
“There’s been a lot of speculation to why I wasn’t on air yesterday… Skip tweeted something… and hopefully Skip would take it down,” Sharpe said, before Bayless interjected: “Timeout, I’m not gonna take it down, because I stand by what I tweeted.” A clearly exasperated Sharpe responded, “I can’t even get through a monologue without you interrupting.”
Sharpe filmed his last show for “Undisputed” in June 2023 right after the NBA Finals, after reaching a buyout with Fox Sports.
He joined ESPN on September 4 of that same year.
Sharpe appeared alongside Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s “First Take” primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays and signed a multi-year contract with ESPN in June. Sharpe was set to expand his role on “First Take” and his presence across ESPN platforms under the new deal, but he will now be missing from ESPN airwaves entirely.
