Shannon Sharpe is on the precipice of signing a new contract with ESPN that will have him staying at the company for multiple years, The Athletic has learned.
The deal has not been formally signed yet but all indications are that it will be completed soon, per a source briefed on the discussions. The deal will have Sharpe continuing to appear on “First Take” regularly. It could also include some appearances on NFL programming.
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Sharpe currently appears with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on the Monday and Tuesday editions of “First Take.” He also hosts a popular podcast, “Club Shay Shay.” The ESPN deal is believed to be for four years, according to the source briefed on the discussions.
An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment when contacted Thursday.
Sharpe joined “First Take” last September after a seven-year run on FS1’s “Undisputed.” He has been a success at ESPN by all measures. As of April, per ESPN, “First Take” averaged 482,000 viewers, a 12 percent year-over-year increase. April marked the show’s 21st consecutive month of year-over-year growth while “Undisputed” has struggled in viewership following Sharpe’s departure.
Before his media career, Sharpe played for 14 seasons in the NFL for Denver and Baltimore. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
(Photo: Cindy Ord / Getty Images
