With the door slammed shut on Shannon Sharpe's return to ESPN, the network seems intent on finding a suitable sports figure who can go toe-to-toe with Stephen A. Smith. But it looks like they may have their eyes set on someone already.

Shannon Sharpe was fired from ESPN in July 2025 after he settled a $50 million rape and sexual assault lawsuit. Here's everything to know about why Shannon Sharpe was fired and the $50 million rape and sexual assault lawsuit he settled.

Shannon Sharpe, the former NFL star who took a hiatus as a commentator on ESPN’s “First Take” after he was accused of sexual assault by an ex-girlfriend, is not returning to the sports cabler, Variety has confirmed.