*Stephen A. Smith confirmed on Thursday’s edition of “First Take” that Shannon Sharpe will join the show, making his debut on September 4
“I honestly didn’t know I had an announcement to make until literally 60 seconds ago, but I was informed that it’s official,” Smith said, Uproxx reports.
“It’s all about not standing still and taking it to another level, and official, this morning, Mr. Shannon Sharpe will be joining the crew,” Smith continued. “He will be joining First Take, it is official, Shannon Sharpe is coming to First Take. He will debut Monday, September 4th, he will be on here every Monday and Tuesday with yours truly, of course the crew — Dan Orlovsky, Kimberly, Marcus Spears, Mad Dog Russo, Ryan Clark and the crew.”
We reported previously that Sharpe is moving on to ESPN’s “First Take” after parting ways with Slip Bayelss on FS1’s “Undisputed.”
Sharpe will join Smith every Monday and Tuesday during the NFL season, according to the New York Post.
Smith initially pushed back against reports that Sharpe was joining “First Take.” As Complex reports, he said, “We all know [Sharpe joining is] something that I want” and said he’d “be a tremendous asset to the show.”
“It’d be great to have him. Here’s the issue: we don’t. … It’s a bit premature,” Smith said.
He continued, “It has not happened yet. I’m still confident it’ll happen, I still believe it will happen, I think it needs to happen—and I have no doubt that I’m gonna exhaust any means that I have available to me to make it happen.”
Sharpe and Bayless launched FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2016, but growing tension in the past year allegedly prompted Sharpe to leave the show in June. One memorable moment was when the eight-time Pro Bowler became visibly upset when Bayless slammed his career as he defended Tom Brady in December 2022.
“This is just straight hate by a guy who’s jealous that he’s still playing at a high level at 45 when you had to stop at 35,” Skip said at the time, per Mediaite.
“That’s what you do, every time I call something into question, I’m jealous,” Sharpe fired back. “Skip, I did what I did. You make it seem like I was a bum! I’m in the effing Hall of Fame! I got three Super Bowls!”
Shannon and Fox Sports ultimately decided on a buyout agreement and parted ways amicably this summer, according to the New York Post.
READ MORE: Shannon Sharpe Could Join ESPN’s ‘First Take’ After Skip Bayless Split
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