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Shannon Sharpe is leaving the door open for a comeback at ESPN and the Pro Football Hall of Famer with deep Denver Broncos roots made it clear he’d welcome a reunion with Stephen A. Smith if the network wanted it.
Speaking with Front Office Sports at Radio Row, Sharpe said he’d “love to go back” to ESPN, but emphasized it’s not his decision.
Shannon Sharpe says he’d return, but puts the ball in ESPN’s court
Sharpe told Front Office Sports he’s “amenable” to a return if ESPN’s decision-makers want it, name-checking ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro and longtime executive Burke Magnus as the ones who would make that call.
ESPN, for its part, offered no comment on Sharpe’s remarks, per the same report.
The timing is notable: Sharpe reunited with Smith on Radio Row during a live edition of Sharpe’s “Nightcap” podcast with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, the same week Super Bowl coverage dominates the sports TV calendar and debate shows fight for the biggest audience spikes of the year.
Why Broncos fans still care: Sharpe’s Denver legacy + football-season value
For Broncos fans, Sharpe isn’t just “TV Shannon.” He’s a franchise icon, a three-time Super Bowl champ (including two rings with Denver) who became one of the defining tight ends of his era.
And the football piece matters if you’re trying to read the tea leaves on ESPN. When Sharpe initially joined First Take, the plan was built around fall football: he was brought in as a weekly guest during the season on Mondays and Tuesdays, going head-to-head with Smith for full two-hour shows.
That’s one key “mechanic” to watch if the reunion talk gets real: ESPN doesn’t necessarily need Sharpe year-round to justify the move. A football-season role is a format they’ve already used, and it’s when Sharpe’s Broncos/NFL credibility is the most valuable.
The obvious obstacle: ESPN already moved on after the 2025 legal situation
Any Sharpe return would come after a very public break between the sides.
Multiple outlets reported ESPN cut ties with Sharpe in July 2025 after a settlement in a lawsuit filed earlier that spring. Sharpe had been away from the network since April 2025, and the case was ultimately dismissed with prejudice after the settlement, according to the AP.
That context is why Sharpe’s “I’d go back” comment is interesting. It’s not him hinting he’s negotiating. It’s him saying the door is unlocked if ESPN wants to reopen it.
Sharpe’s pitch: the numbers and the Stephen A. relationship
Sharpe’s argument is simple: he still drives an audience.
In the Front Office Sports interview, Sharpe pointed to Nightcap and Club Shay Shay regularly landing in YouTube’s top range, and said the fan base “never left.”
He also leaned hard into his relationship with Smith, saying they talk even more now than when he was appearing on First Take and praising Smith for checking in during the difficult stretch.
So what happens next? If there’s any real traction, it likely shows up first in the form of guest spots, especially during NFL tentpoles (free agency, the draft, training camp, Week 1). That’s where ESPN can test-drive the reaction without committing to a big move.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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