LAS VEGAS — NFL Hall of Fame member Shannon Sharpe has successfully resolved a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship, according to her attorney on Friday. Attorney Tony Buzbee announced that “all matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed.” This means the lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice, indicating it cannot be refiled in the future.
No specific details regarding the resolution were disclosed. The lawsuit, which had been filed in April in Clark County, Nevada, sought $50 million in damages. When the allegations were first made, Sharpe referred to them as “false and disruptive,” and he took a leave of absence from his work at ESPN, vowing to return by the start of the NFL preseason.
Attempts to contact Sharpe’s attorney, David Chesnoff, for further comment were unsuccessful. The lawsuit claimed that the woman, who was 20 at the time they met at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023, had a tumultuous relationship with Sharpe for nearly two years. The lawsuit accused him of rape on two occasions, once in October 2024 and again in January.
According to Buzbee, “both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship.” He added that after extensive negotiations, they reached a mutually agreed-upon resolution.
Sharpe is known as a four-time All-Pro tight end who played for Denver and Baltimore, winning three Super Bowls during his 14-season career from 1990 to 2003. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. During his time in the NFL, he retired as the all-time leader among tight ends in several categories, including receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060), and touchdowns (62), although those records have since been surpassed.
Since retiring, Sharpe has remained active in the media, transitioning from FS1’s “Undisputed” to ESPN in 2023.
