Shannon Sharpe Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has reached a settlement in the lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault. His attorney reported this on Friday.No details of the agreement were disclosed. The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, sought $50 million. Sharpe called the allegations “false and disturbing” when the lawsuit was filed in April in Clark County, Nevada. He stepped away from his job at ESPN on April 24, but had been committed to returning at the start of the NFL preseason. The woman met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023, when she was 20 years old, and a relationship of almost two years followed, according to the lawsuit. Sharpe, 57, was accused of raping the woman in October 2024 and in January.“All matters have been addressed satisfactorily and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice,” Tony Buzbee stated on X, which means the lawsuit cannot be filed again.
Tony Buzbee
Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end and played on two Super Bowl-winning teams with Denver and one with Baltimore during 14 seasons, from 1990 to 2003. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060), and touchdowns (62). Those records have been broken. Sharpe has been a fixture on television and social media since he retired. He left the sports debate show “Undisputed” on FS1 in 2023 and joined ESPN shortly after.“Both sides acknowledge a consensual and tumultuous long-term relationship,” said Buzbee, who also represented several women who filed lawsuits against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. “After lengthy and respectful negotiations, I am pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed resolution.”
Tony Buzbee
