According to reports from The Athletic and the Associated Press, ESPN has officially ended its association with former NFL star and prominent media figure Shannon Sharpe.
The decision comes less than two weeks after Sharpe settled a $50 million rape and sexual assault lawsuit with his ex-girlfriend.
Sharpe has not appeared on ESPN since April, when the lawsuit was initially filed.
The 57-year-old called the accusations “false and disruptive” at the time they were levied and hoped to return in time for the NFL season.
While at ESPN, Shannon Sharpe was a frequent contributor to “First Take” alongside Stephen A. Smith up until April. Before that, he co-hosted “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless on FS1.
Sharpe has remained active in the media with his podcasts “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap,” co-hosted by former NFL player Chad Ochocinco.
Sharpe played 14 seasons in the NFL and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011.
In his NFL career, he retired holding the league’s all-time records for tight ends in receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060), and touchdowns (62), all of which have since been surpassed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
