In Las Vegas, a civil lawsuit has been initiated against former NFL player Shannon Sharpe by a woman identified as Jane Doe. She alleges that Sharpe raped and threatened her during what she describes as a tumultuous consensual relationship, seeking $50 million in damages for her claims. The lawsuit, submitted to a Clark County court in Nevada, also accuses Sharpe of physically assaulting her and causing emotional distress.
The woman, then 20 years old, reportedly met Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym in 2023. This encounter led to a relationship that lasted nearly two years, as filed in the court documents. It is alleged that Sharpe, now 56, raped her once in October 2024 and then again in January, according to these documents.
In response, Sharpe released a statement through his attorney on social media. His lawyer characterized the lawsuit as a “blatant and cynical attempt to extort” money from Sharpe, maintaining that the relationship was entirely consensual. The statement criticized the allegations as fabricated and misleading, expressing confidence that the lawsuit would not prevail.
The complaint details accusations of Sharpe’s increasingly abusive and controlling behavior, including verbal aggression and violent threats. It claims he recorded their intimate moments without her consent and would break into her apartment complex without her permission, especially when she confronted him about infidelities or other disputes.
Sharpe, who achieved notable success during his NFL career, was a four-time All-Pro tight end and played for the Denver and Baltimore teams, securing three Super Bowl wins from 1990 to 2003. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, having retired as the all-time leading tight end in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, records that have since been surpassed.
Post-retirement, Sharpe has maintained visibility as a television and social media personality. In 2023, he transitioned from his role on FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” to join ESPN.