The attorney for a woman who filed a sexual assault lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN personality Shannon Sharp announced on Friday that the case has been settled.
Lawyer Tony Buzby shared the news on X, stating that a complaint was filed in Nevada on April 20, 2025, detailing several allegations against Sharp, acknowledging the lengthy relationship between both parties.
“All issues have now been adequately addressed, and the case will be dismissed with prejudice,” he stated.
Sharp had previously described the allegations as “false and harmful.” The accuser claimed that Sharp purposely caused her emotional distress in October 2024 and again in January 2025, allegedly assaulting her on two occasions. After the lawsuit was filed, Sharp stepped back from his role at ESPN on April 24 but indicated his intention to return for the upcoming NFL preseason. He referred to the lawsuit as an attempt at extortion.
The initial lawsuit drawn attention after Sharp’s lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, disclosed purported text messages from the accuser, suggesting that their relationship was based on “fantasy” and “roleplay.” Additionally, Davis shared a sexually explicit message on social media that was allegedly from Sharp.
Before Davis’s press conference, Sharp released a video in which he reiterated his belief that the lawsuit was a ploy for money and accused Buzby of targeting Black men. He expressed concerns that Buzby might release an edited version of a video to bolster the claims against him.
Buzby later responded, confirming that previous settlement discussions had taken place but denied any alterations to the plaintiff’s evidence, asserting that Sharp’s claims lack merit and are desperate in nature.
The ongoing legal battle has drawn parallels to Buzby’s previous work, where he was involved in cases against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
