Stephen A. Smith is publicly campaigning for Shannon Sharpe to return to First Take.
During a recent appearance on the Out the Mud podcast, the ESPN star made it clear that he wants the Hall of Fame tight end back on the network’s flagship debate show, nearly a year after Sharpe’s departure from ESPN.
“I’m always going to want him back. The company knows I want him back,” Smith said. “If we can get him back, I want him back. I ain’t apologizing for that to nobody.”
The comments immediately added fuel to ongoing speculation surrounding Sharpe’s future at ESPN. Interest around a possible reunion has intensified in recent weeks after Smith reunited on-air with his former First Take partner Skip Bayless, who returned to the show for a heavily promoted guest appearance despite previously being considered unlikely to return to the network.
Smith acknowledged that the final decision on Sharpe rests above his pay grade, even though he now serves as an executive producer on First Take.
“I’m the executive producer, but I’m not an executive VP of the company,” Smith explained. “I have bosses to answer to. They have to make that decision.”
Even so, Smith left little doubt about where he stands personally. He credited Sharpe not only for helping elevate the show but also for supporting him behind the scenes during their time together at ESPN.
“He was great for me. He was great to me,” Smith said. “He was great for the show.”
Sharpe originally joined ESPN in 2023 after his six-year run alongside Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed came to an end following a highly publicized breakdown in their working relationship.
Once paired with Smith on First Take, Sharpe quickly became one of the program’s most popular personalities, blending football analysis with humor and viral moments that regularly circulated online.
At the same time, Sharpe’s media profile expanded far beyond television. His Club Shay Shay podcast became one of the biggest interview platforms in sports and entertainment media, while Nightcap, co-hosted with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, developed a massive digital audience of its own.
Sharpe’s ESPN tenure ended last summer after he settled a $50 million civil lawsuit in which he was accused of rape. Sharpe denied the allegations before the case was resolved. Following the fallout, ESPN cut ties with the former NFL star.
Despite that separation, Smith has continued supporting Sharpe publicly and privately. Earlier this year, Sharpe also said he would “love to go back” to ESPN if the network reached out.
