Chad Johnson says loyalty mattered more than money when it came to standing by Shannon Sharpe during a turbulent year.
In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, the former NFL wide receiver opened up about his decision to continue co-hosting the Nightcap podcast with Sharpe, even after a lawsuit against the Hall of Fame tight end disrupted a major business opportunity.
Sharpe had reportedly been nearing a media deal worth more than $100 million tied to his Shay Shay Media brand before the negotiations collapsed following a sexual assault lawsuit filed in April 2025. Sharpe denied the allegations, and the case was later settled and dismissed.
Johnson said the controversy never made him consider walking away from the show, even though he might have shared in the potential payday.
Chad Ochocinco explains why he has stuck by Shannon Sharpe, who settled a sexual assault case last year.
Johnson and Sharpe co-host Nightcap, a podcast with 2 million YouTube subscribers. pic.twitter.com/3Azj0IVIk5
— Front Office Sports News (@FOS_News_) March 2, 2026
“It was an easy decision for me,” Johnson said. “We all make mistakes in life.”
He added that loyalty meant remaining committed to the partnership regardless of outside pressure. “Who the hell am I to say, ‘Oh my goodness, Shannon messed up, you know what, I’m gonna kick rocks?’” Johnson said. “That’s not what loyalty is.”
Johnson continued, “I agreed to do a show with Shannon Sharpe, come hell or high water.”
Nightcap continues to release multiple episodes each week on YouTube.