Shannon Sharpe pal Chad Johnson angles to take over his ESPN role
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson appears to be lobbying for Shannon Sharpe’s seat on “First Take” after the Pro Football Hall of Famer was fired Wednesday by ESPN just days after settling a bombshell $50 million lawsuit in which a Jane Doe accused him of rape.
While promoting EA Sports and popular video game “Madden NFL 26” on “First Take” Wednesday, Johnson, who co-hosts the “Nightcap” podcast with Sharpe, said he’ll be in the studio for the 2025 NFL season.
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“I can get used to this for the next … six months,” Johnson said after host Molly Qerim asked whether he liked the new “First Take” studio, which is located in Lower Manhattan.
“I’m gonna start Sept. 5, if I’m not mistaken, because ‘Thursday Night Football,’ first week, so, I should be here Friday.”
Qerim then pointed to host Stephen A. Smith and told Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver, to “talk to the boss,” who appeared on the show remotely.
“The fact that you came off vacation for me, that lets me know you’re trying to get things started a little early,” Johnson told Smith. “And I appreciate that. Trying to preheat the oven, I like that. It’s gonna be a great season.”
Johnson, who has previously appeared on “First Take,” has long coveted a spot on the ESPN program, championing himself on social media for months.
Sharpe had been off the air at ESPN since late April due to the lawsuit.
The plaintiff, who is more than 30 years younger than him, alleged Sharpe brutally sexually assaulted her several times at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.
He denied all allegations of coercion or misconduct in a statement through his counsel to The Post.
Sharpe addressed his ESPN firing during Wednesday’s installment of the “Nightcap” podcast, explaining he asked the Worldwide Leader to wait until next Monday to go public with the news due to brother Sterling Sharpe’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday.
“The only thing that I really asked was that, ‘Guys, could we wait until Monday. My brother is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I really want it to be about him and be about my family. This coming out would overshadow everything he’s worked his entire life for,’” Sharpe said. “And unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way.”
Sharpe, 57, said he “profusely apologized” to his older brother, who told him to “be done” and “move on” from the situation.
“I really enjoyed my time at ESPN, it gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me just grow … to ESPN, so I’m very grateful for that,” Sharpe said. “… [ESPN] did what they had to do — I’m at peace with that.
“I just wish this thing could have waited until Monday because I hate the fact that I’m overshadowing my brother. The first two brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this is what the headlines are going to be for the next couple of days.”
Sharpe originally joined “First Take” in the fall of 2023 following his FS1 exit.
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