Shannon Sharpe is talking out after his exit from ESPN.

The Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer spoke in regards to the information on his podcast with Chad Johnson, Nightcap, addressing his departure from the community for the very first time. This comes lower than two weeks after Sharpe settled a lawsuit by which his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape.
Whereas Shannon appeared content material with what occurred, there was one huge challenge he expressed with how the information was launched. On February 6, 2025, his brother, Sterling Sharpe, was introduced as an inductee for the 2025 Professional Soccer Corridor Of Fame class. As this yr’s inductees are getting ready to rejoice their achievements this weekend, Shannon admits that he merely didn’t need his dangerous information to overshadow his brother’s achievements.
“Everyone’s heard the information by now that I cannot be returning to ESPN,” Sharpe mentioned on the Nightcap podcast on Wednesday. “I came upon this data a bit of earlier within the week. The one factor I actually requested is that if we are able to wait till Monday. My brother’s going into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, I actually wished it to be about him, and I wished it to be about household.”
Shannon went on to say that the untimely leak of his departure overshadowed what was presupposed to be a constructive household milestone.
“I simply want this factor may have waited till Monday,” he continued. “I wished it to be about the whole lot he labored his whole life for.”
“I loved my time at ESPN,” Sharpe mentioned. “It gave me a chance to deliver my viewers that noticed me actually simply develop,” mentioned Sharpe. “They noticed me say ‘Lakers in 5’ and all these analogies my grandparents gave me, and I used to be in a position to deliver that to ESPN, and I’m grateful for that.”
The retired NFL star has not been on ESPN since late April, when the lawsuit in opposition to was first filed. On the time, Shannon mentioned he would return to ESPN originally of NFL coaching camp.
The girl behind the swimsuit, referred to as “Jane Doe,” was looking for $50 million for “ache and struggling, psychological and emotional misery, psychological anguish, embarrassment and humiliation,” accusing Shannon of rape and abuse. Sharpe publicly denied the allegations instantly after his accuser filed the swimsuit in April, calling the case a “shakedown” try. He has maintained that he and the Nevada girl have been in a consensual sexual relationship.