Stephen A. Smith Addresses Reports of Shannon Sharpe Joining Him on ESPN’s First Take: “I Think it Needs to Happen” [Video]

Stephen A. Smith is addressing reports of Shannon Sharpe joining him on ESPN’s First Take.

During Thursday’s episode of the Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith told fans, “We all know [Sharpe joining is] something that I want,”  noting he’d “be a tremendous asset to the show.”

This all comes after the NY Post reported that Sharpe would be joining Smith on First Take every Monday and Tuesday throughout the NFL season.

“It’d be great to have him.  Here’s the issue: we don’t. … It’s a bit premature,” Smith continued.

“It has not happened yet.  I’m still confident it’ll happen, I still believe it will happen, I think it needs to happen—and I have no doubt that I’m gonna exhaust any means that I have available to me to make it happen.”

Earlier this week, Sharpe hinted that he would return to TV during the start of the 2023-24 NFL season, which kicks off on September 7 with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Detroit Lions.