Shannon Sharpe Departure from First Take
Shannon Sharpe left First Take after his multi-year deal with ESPN concluded, with his final regular appearance on the show occurring in early 2024. Reports from ESPN and other outlets confirmed that his exit was part of a mutual decision rather than a sudden termination, and his last on-air segment aired shortly after the NFL season wrapped up. First Take continued without him, shifting its panel lineup and commentary style to fill the gap left by the former NFL tight end and Hall of Famer.
ESPN did not immediately announce a direct replacement for Sharpe, instead relying on rotating analysts and existing hosts to maintain the show's daily debate format. The network's decision reflected broader changes in its sports commentary lineup, as it balanced established personalities with new voices across its programming. Sharpe's departure marked the end of a long-running partnership that had made him one of the most recognizable figures on ESPN's daily sports talk lineup.
Shannon Sharpe's Career After First Take
After leaving First Take, Shannon Sharpe focused on other media and business opportunities, including his podcast Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, which continued to air on Fox Sports. Undisputed remained a flagship show for the network, featuring Sharpe alongside co-host Skip Bayless and covering NFL news, NBA storylines, and broader sports debates. The show maintained a strong viewership base, with Nielsen data showing consistent ratings among sports talk audiences during the same period when Sharpe was absent from ESPN.
Sharpe also explored brand partnerships and digital content projects, leveraging his Hall of Fame status and large social media following. His post-First Take presence remained active across platforms, with clips and commentary shared widely on social media sites. ESPN, meanwhile, continued to develop its commentary roster, introducing new analysts and adjusting its programming strategy to match shifting viewer habits and competition from other sports networks.
First Take's Current Format and Hosts
First Take shifted its on-air dynamic after Sharpe's departure, with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim continuing as the core host pair. The show maintained its signature hot-take debate format, focusing on daily NFL and NBA news, player performance, and coaching decisions. ESPN integrated other analysts into the studio panel on a rotating basis, ensuring the show kept a mix of perspectives without a permanent replacement for Sharpe's role.
The show's ratings and online engagement remained a focus for ESPN, which tracked audience numbers across linear television and streaming platforms. First Take continued to be one of the most-watched daily sports opinion programs, competing with other shows in the same time slot on networks like FS1 and TNT. ESPN's broader strategy included expanding digital clips, social media presence, and cross-platform promotion to keep First Take relevant in a changing media landscape.