Shannon Sharpe was an intimidator, a game changer, a leader in the sport, and is, quite simply, the most prolific tight end that the NFL has ever seen.
During his football career, Shannon Sharpe was one of the most easily recognized tight ends throughout the league. In addition to his incredible athletic ability, he had a boisterous and fun personality that made him an immediate fan favorite.
He won multiple Super Bowls and helped actively redefine what the tight end position means. His career post-NFL has also been highly successful.
It’s because of talented players like Sharpe that the NFL is always evolving and NFL lines are quick to change.
Here are some of Shannon Sharpe’s greatest career accomplishments.
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1. He Overcame Tough Beginnings
As a seventh-round draft pick from Savannah State and a 192nd overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, things didn’t seem to be looking too good for Shannon. He was scheduled to be let go meaning his rookie career would have ended before it began!
However, Denver offensive coach Chan Gailey rallied around Sharpe to ensure he was kept in the running. It worked out in his favor!
That’s not to say Sharpe didn’t have a set of obstacles to face. The main one was his weight of 104 kg (230 pounds) which meant he had too large of a frame for a receiver and too small for a tight end.
Denver coach Dan Reeves ordered Sharpe to put 35 pounds on if he wanted to make the team in his second season. Sharpe did so and was converted to a tight end. An excellent move for all parties involved!
2. Three Super Bowl Championships
Shannon Sharpe enjoyed a 14-year-long career in the NFL. During this time, he won many accolades for his agility and dominance on the field.
He spent the first decade of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos (1990-99 and 2002-03), and two years with the Baltimore Ravens (2000-01) before he finally retired.
Sharpe won three Super Bowls during his career: Super Bowl XXXII, Super Bowl XXXIII, and Super Bowl XXXV.
Shannon Sharpe played a huge role in getting to or winning all three and proved himself to be as much of an offensive threat as any wide receiver that any of his squads could ever boast.
3. Pro Bowl Nod
On October 14th, 1992, Shannon achieved his first 100-yard receiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to do it a total of 20 times during his NFL career with over half of these wins occurring against AFC West opponents.
Shannon went on to earn his first Pro Bowl nod this same year and finished his career with a total of eight selections.
During his initial tenure with the Broncos, Sharpe was voted to seven consecutive Pro Bowls between 1992 and 1998, and eventually earned the prestigious first-team All-Pro honors not once, but a total of four times!
Sharpe was also voted as the first-team tight end on the 1990s All-Decade Team. An accolade that not many football players can relish!
4. Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Sharpe would finish his magnificent NFL career with 10,060 yards, 815 receptions, and 62 touchdowns. These were all records at the time. If that wasn’t enough, he ranked in the top five all-time tight ends in each of these categories!
As a big game performer that played best under blinding lights, Shannon Sharpe made appearances in 12 post-season contests with the Broncos and officially ranks fourth for receiving yards (505) and third for receptions (47) in the franchise playoff history.
In 2011, as recognition for his contributions to football, Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
5. Prominent Sports Broadcaster
Following his career, the NFL legend went on to join the CBS NFL crew for a pregame show. During this time, he gave an analysis of NFL games with the likes of Bill Cowher and James Brown.
Unsurprisingly, Sharpe continued to exceed everyone’s expectations as a broadcaster (much like he did as a player). Not only was he still admired as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, but he also managed to translate a lot of his famous personality into sports commentary.
As a result, fans took to his career change well. He continues to be one of the most beloved broadcasters in this field.
So much so that he started a podcast in September 2020 with a hoard of dedicated listeners tuning in to hear him and special guests – including his older brother Sterling Sharpe who was also an NFL legend in his own right.
Sharpe also has a net worth of around $11.52 million which is a testament to his success on and off the field.
Summary
It’s a simple fact that Shannon Sharpe is one of the best football tight ends in the entire history of the NFL. The stats don’t lie, and neither do his hordes of impressive accolades and accomplishments. Sharpe is also one of the only tight ends to go on to have an equally as successful career as an NFL broadcaster.
