Shannon Sharpe Open to ESPN Return: “If a Reunion Is in Order, I’m Amenable to It”
Shannon Sharpe isn’t ruling anything out. The Hall of Fame tight end and current media powerhouse made it clear this week that he’d welcome a return to ESPN - and more specifically, a reunion with Stephen A. Smith on First Take - if the opportunity presents itself.
“That’s not my call. I would love to go back if they were to call,” Sharpe said in an interview earlier this week.
“Burke, Jimmy, Dave - that is their call. But obviously, I’m more than willing, I’m more than capable.”
Sharpe’s tone was confident, not desperate. This isn’t a man looking for a lifeline - it’s a media figure at the top of his game, simply leaving the door open.
And he’s got the numbers to back it up.
“They see what we do here on Nightcap,” Sharpe said. “They see the numbers that we generate.
Club Shay Shay was in the Top 10 this weekend on YouTube. Both of our shows are normally in the Top 20.
Very few people can say they have a Top 20 show.”
He’s not exaggerating. In a crowded sports media landscape, consistently cracking the Top 20 on YouTube is no small feat - especially with two separate shows. That kind of reach speaks to Sharpe’s ability to connect with fans across platforms, whether it’s late-night laughs with Chad Johnson and Gilbert Arenas on Nightcap, or long-form interviews on Club Shay Shay that regularly go viral.
“We normally, customarily have two shows in the Top 20 on YouTube,” Sharpe said. “So clearly, I still have a fan base.
I still have a big following. If a reunion is in order, I’m amenable to it.”
Sharpe originally joined ESPN in August 2023 as a contributor, bringing his unique blend of charisma, football knowledge, and cultural commentary to First Take. His on-air chemistry with Stephen A.
Smith quickly became a highlight for fans. That stint ended in July 2025, following a legal settlement and his departure from the network.
Before his time at ESPN, Sharpe spent seven years at FS1, where he helped launch Undisputed alongside Skip Bayless in 2016. That show became a staple of the sports debate genre, with Sharpe’s passionate takes and Bayless’ contrarian style creating must-watch TV for years.
Of course, Sharpe’s media career is just one chapter in a storied football life. A three-time Super Bowl champion - two with the Denver Broncos, one with the Baltimore Ravens - Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
And while plenty of former players transition to TV, few have built the kind of post-playing career that Sharpe has. He’s not just a former athlete talking shop - he’s a media brand in his own right.
So, could we see him back across the desk from Stephen A. Smith sometime soon?
That’s up to ESPN’s top brass. But if they make the call, Sharpe says he’s ready.
And judging by the audience he’s built on his own terms, there’s still plenty of demand for what he brings to the table.