ESPN Broadcasting is buzzing with comeback energy. Stephen A. Smith is making it clear that his recent reunion with Skip Bayless isn’t the only return he’s hoping to see at the network.
Days after Bayless came back to First Take, Smith opened up about another former colleague he believes still belongs on air: Shannon Sharpe. Speaking on the Out The Mud podcast, Smith admitted he’s already made his feelings known internally. “I’m always going to want him back,” Smith said. “The company knows I want him back.” You can find more context on ESPN Broadcasting and its recent shifts.
Sharpe left ESPN in 2025 after sexual assault allegations surfaced. The former NFL star denied the claims, and a settlement was reached before the network ultimately cut ties with him.
“He was great for me. He was great to me,” Smith said. “He was great for the show.” Smith’s loyalty speaks volumes about their professional bond and what Sharpe brought to the broadcast.
That said, Smith acknowledged that any decision about Sharpe’s future rests with network executives, not him. “I have bosses to answer to,” he explained. “They have to make that decision.” It’s a reality check in conversations about national book award-level talent in sports media—not everyone calling the shots gets final say.
Sharpe has publicly stated he’d welcome the opportunity to return if ESPN called. “I would love to go back if they were to call,” Sharpe said earlier this year. “I’m more than willing, I’m more than capable.”
The question lingering in sports circles: Should ESPN welcome him back? Smith’s public support certainly adds weight to that conversation.
Shannon Sharpe Thanks Stephen A Smith for not switching up on him pic.twitter.com/4aE2WPOiis
— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) February 6, 2026
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