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“I
will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and
dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against
me,” Sharpe said, adding: “I sincerely appreciate the
overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family,
fans, friends and colleagues.”
Attorneys filed the lawsuit Sunday in Clark County, Nevada, for
a woman listed in court documents as Jane Doe. The lawsuit also
accuses Sharpe of using physical force on her and inflicting
emotional distress.
The woman first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when
she was 20 and a nearly two-year relationship followed,
according to court documents. Sharpe, 56, is accused of raping
the woman in October 2024 and again in January, the documents
said.
On Monday, Sharpe had posted a statement from his lawyer on X
saying the relationship was consensual and calling the lawsuit a
“blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for millions
of dollars.
Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end who played on two Super
Bowl-winning teams with Denver and one with Baltimore over 14
seasons from 1990 to 2003. He was voted into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sharpe retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in
receptions (815), yards receiving (10,060) and touchdowns (62).
Those records have since been broken.
Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring.
He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and joined
ESPN soon afterward.
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