Sterling Sharpe facts for kids

Sterling Sharpe (born April 6, 1965) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Sterling played in the NFL from 1988 to 1994. His career ended early because of a neck injury. After playing, he became a sports analyst for the NFL Network. He is the older brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame player Shannon Sharpe. In February 2025, Sterling Sharpe was chosen to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and College Football Career

Sterling Sharpe was born in Chicago. He grew up in Glennville, Georgia, with his grandparents and siblings. His younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, also became a famous football player.

Sterling went to Glennville High School. There, he played many sports. He was a running back, quarterback, and linebacker in football. He also played basketball and was on the track team.

At the University of South Carolina, Sterling became a star wide receiver. He set new school records for catches and receiving yards. He also set a record for touchdowns in a single season. South Carolina retired his No. 2 jersey in 1987. This was a special honor, as he was still playing. In 2014, Sterling was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

The Green Bay Packers picked Sterling Sharpe in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft. He was the seventh player chosen overall. He made a big impact on the team right away. In his first year, he played in all sixteen games. He caught 55 passes.

In his second season, Sterling led the entire league with 90 catches. He was the first Packers player to do this since 1945. He broke team records for catches and receiving yards in a season. Sterling was known as a tough player. He had strong hands and would make difficult catches.

Teaming Up with Brett Favre

In the 1992 season, Sterling Sharpe and new quarterback Brett Favre became a powerful duo. They were one of the best passing teams in the NFL. In the last game of that season, Sterling caught his 107th pass. This broke the NFL's record for most catches in a single season. That year, he also led the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions. This is called winning the "Triple Crown" for a receiver. Only a few players in NFL history have achieved this.

In the 1993 season, Sterling broke his own record. He caught 112 passes. This made him the first player to have over 100 catches in two years in a row. In 1994, he caught 18 touchdown passes. This was the second-highest number in league history at the time. On October 24, 1993, he caught four touchdown passes in one game. This was a rare feat for a Packers player.

Career-Ending Injury

Sterling Sharpe's amazing career ended early due to a neck injury. Near the end of the 1994 season, doctors found a problem with his neck. He needed surgery because the top two bones in his neck were loose. He had suffered "stinger" injuries in earlier games.

After the surgery, Sterling could not return to football. He had been invited to the Pro Bowl five times during his career. His younger brother, Shannon, later won three Super Bowl rings. Shannon gave his first Super Bowl ring to Sterling. He said Sterling was a huge influence on his life.

Sterling Sharpe was second in catches and receiving yards during his seven seasons. He was third in touchdowns. His brother Shannon once said, "I am the only person in the Hall of Fame that can say I was the second-best player in my own family." In 2002, Sterling was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

After retiring from playing, Sterling became a football analyst. He worked for ESPN and then the NFL Network. In 2024, he was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On February 6, 2025, it was announced that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame class of 2025.

NFL Career Statistics