A civil lawsuit has been filed against retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe by a woman who alleges that he raped and threatened her during what she describes as a “rocky consensual relationship.” The lawsuit, seeking $50 million in damages, was submitted on Sunday in Clark County, Nevada, with the woman identified as Jane Doe in the court documents. The suit accuses Sharpe of using physical force and causing emotional distress.
The woman claims that she first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023, beginning a nearly two-year relationship. According to the court documents, Sharpe is accused of raping her on two separate occasions, first in October 2024 and then again in January.
In response, Sharpe released a statement through his lawyer, asserting that the relationship was consensual and labeling the lawsuit as a “blatant and cynical attempt” to extract money from him. The statement described the claims as filled with falsehoods and misrepresentations.
The lawsuit further accuses Sharpe of progressively becoming more verbally abusive, controlling, and violent. Allegations include threats of violence, unauthorized recordings of their intimate encounters, and unauthorized access to the woman’s apartment complex. The suit also mentions Sharpe’s anger when confronted about infidelity and other activities.
Shannon Sharpe, a former tight end, is well-known for his NFL career, during which he was a four-time All-Pro and won three Super Bowl championships—two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, Sharpe retired as the leading tight end in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, although these records have since been surpassed.
Since his retirement from professional football, Sharpe has remained a prominent figure on television and social media. He departed from FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and subsequently joined ESPN.
