Shannon Sharpe says he ‘resolved the issue’ with Kirk Herbstreit over Ohio State remarks
It’s unlikely that many anticipated a feud between Shannon Sharpe and Kirk Herbstreit this year, but that’s what happens when you clash with Herbstreit over his Ohio State football views. On Saturday night’s ESPN broadcast of the Tennessee vs. Ohio State College Football Playoff game, Herbstreit addressed the criticism from First Take regarding the Buckeyes. This prompted responses from both Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe on Monday’s show, with Sharpe being the most vocal in his rebuttal.
Though Sharpe is a part-time contributor to First Take, he issued a subtle threat to Herbstreit, warning him not to “play with me.” However, just hours later, the two seemed to resolve the situation, with Sharpe offering an apology on his Nightcap podcast. “My point was, and I’m not sure if he was talking to me, but I didn’t think the commentary was necessary at that moment. Yes, Ohio State won. And yes, we know Kirk Herbstreit went to Ohio State,” Sharpe explained. “I believe you can defend your friends without attacking others. I felt like he was taking a jab at First Take.”
Sharpe also reflected on his own experience earlier this year when he argued with his Nightcap co-host, Chad Johnson, about Johnson being late for a livestream. Sharpe expressed regret for airing their disagreement publicly and emphasized that such comments, like Herbstreit’s, shouldn’t be made in public.
Sharpe confirmed that Herbstreit reached out to him via text on Monday, and the two “cleared the air.”
“I was glad Herbie reached out. We were able to move past it,” Sharpe said. “I know he’s happy Ohio State won, and I know he’s a close friend of Ryan Day in the Columbus area, but being friends and taking shots are two different things. I just needed to know, are we teammates or not? That’s all I needed. Because if we’re not, I’ll take shots every night until it’s over.”
Sharpe remained professional, maintaining a sense of confidence that keeps him grounded in any conflict, even when apologizing.
Over the last year, Sharpe has had disputes with figures like Shaquille O’Neal, Mike Epps, and now Herbstreit. As always, the conflicts end with Sharpe taking the high road, choosing when and how to end them on his terms.