Shannon Sharpe breaks silence on potential return to ESPN with Stephen A. Smith

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Shannon Sharpe breaks silence on potential return to ESPN with Stephen A. Smith

Aikansh Chaudhary

Sun, February 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC

2 min read

Shannon Sharpe has finally addressed speculation surrounding a possible return to ESPN alongside Stephen A. Smith.

After carving out major success outside traditional television, Sharpe made it clear the door is not closed on a reunion with his former network.

Shannon Sharpe is open to an ESPN reunion with Stephen A. Smith

Speaking in an interview with Front Office Sports, Sharpe explained where things stand if ESPN ever decides to make the call.

He said, “That’s not my call. I would love to go back if they were to call. Burke [Magnus], Jimmy [Pitaro], Dave Roberts. That is their call.

“But obviously, I’m more than willing, I’m more than capable. They see what we do here on Nightcap. They see the numbers that we generate.”

The response was measured but confident. Sharpe did not frame himself as waiting by the phone, but he made it clear there is no bitterness or resistance on his end.

Instead, he positioned the decision squarely with ESPN leadership. From his perspective, the evidence of value is already there.

A reunion with Stephen A. Smith would immediately draw attention, given their past chemistry and Sharpe’s familiarity with ESPN’s biggest debate platforms.

Why Sharpe believes his audience still justifies a return

Sharpe also pointed to concrete numbers when explaining why he believes he remains a strong fit for a major network role.

“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,” Sharpe continued.

He concluded: “We normally, customarily have two shows in the Top 20 on YouTube. 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.”

The argument was simple. Audience reach has not declined, it has expanded.

Sharpe framed his digital success as proof of relevance rather than an alternative path away from television. The platforms may have changed, but the demand has not.

Any potential reunion would not be about nostalgia alone. It would be driven by reach, influence, and the ability to move the conversation.

For now, Sharpe remains focused on what he is building independently. If ESPN decides to revisit the partnership, Sharpe has made his stance clear. He is open, confident, and ready.

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