Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring from the NFL. He left FS1βs sports debate show βUndisputedβ in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward.
WASHINGTON β Retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe announced Thursday he is “temporarily” stepping aside from his work at ESPN after a young woman accused him of rape in a civil lawsuit.Β
“My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties. 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.”
Attorneys filed the $50 million lawsuit Sunday in Clark County, Nevada, for a woman listed in court documents as Jane Doe. Court documents say the woman met Sharpe at a gym in 2023 and that the two had a nearly two-year βrocky consensual relationship.β Documents accuse Sharpe of raping the woman in October 2024 and again in January.
Sharpe previously posted a statement from his lawyer on X calling the lawsuit a βblatant 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 champions with Denver and another with Baltimore over 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sharpe retired as the NFLβs all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, yards receiving and touchdowns. Those records have since been broken.
Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1βs sports debate show βUndisputedβ in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward.
On Thursday, he also thanked his family, fans, friends and colleagues for the overwhelming and ongoing support he’s received.Β
