A woman identified as Jane Doe has filed a civil lawsuit against retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe, accusing him of rape and seeking $50 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in Clark County, Nevada, alleges that Sharpe used physical force on her and caused emotional distress during their nearly two-year relationship that began in 2023 when she was 20 years old. The woman claims that Sharpe raped her in October 2024 and again in January.
Sharpe, through his lawyer Lanny J. Davis, has denied the allegations, stating that the relationship was consensual and calling the lawsuit a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for money. The lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of becoming verbally abusive, controlling, and violent over time, including threatening to kill the woman and recording their sexual encounters without consent.
Sharpe, a former four-time All-Pro tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens during his 14-season career from 1990 to 2003, was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Since retiring, Sharpe has been a prominent figure on television and social media, leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2023 and joining ESPN shortly after. Despite holding records as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns, these records have since been broken. The lawsuit against Sharpe is ongoing, and the legal proceedings will continue to unfold.
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