Forgotten Ballers: Sterling Sharpe

@packers

Green Bay, Wisconsin (PSF) - Among the thousands of players in the history of the NFL, along with the volatility of the careers of so many players, lots of superstars easily get forgotten. So this week, the often forgotten NFL superstar who deserves his flowers is wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.

Sterling Sharpe played for the Green Bay Packers from 1988-1994. That career is noticeably short, and that’s due to an unfortunate career ending neck injury. But within his seven year career, he was on a trajectory to be one of the greatest receivers to ever play. He was a first team All-Pro three times in 1989, ‘92, and ‘93. He also made the Pro Bowl five times, led the NFL in receptions three times, led the NFL in touchdown receptions twice, and once led the NFL in receiving yards in 1992. Sharpe’s 1992 season coincided with the first year of Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s 16 year tenure as the Packers’ starting quarterback. Sharpe dominated in the 1994 season with 18 touchdown catches in the season before his injury. In the following three seasons, Favre would begin a three year run with three consecutive NFL MVPs from 1995-1997. This run included a Super Bowl XXXI victory over the Patriots after the 1996 season. The Packers followed up their championship run with another Super Bowl appearance the next season. 

Just take a moment to imagine how dominant the Packers could have possibly been with Sterling Sharpe still playing with Brett Favre in the prime of both their careers. Could the Packers have repeated in Super Bowl XXXII, meaning John Elway has one less ring? How many Super Bowls would the Brett Favre led Packers have won? Where would Sterling Sharpe have finished among the all time great receivers, especially with a quarterback like Brett Favre? Unfortunately, NFL fans will never know. Packers fans like myself only lament these questions. 

Sterling’s career has also been largely overshadowed by his brother Shannon, who went on to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Shannon would become a four-time first team All-Pro selection, one-time second team All-Pro, an eight time Pro Bowler, and a three time Super Bowl Champion on his way to the Hall of Fame. He has become known for his post-NFL career, recently becoming one of sports media’s biggest stars as he has just recently finished a nearly seven year run on Fox Sports’ show Undisputed, co-starring with Skip Bayless. But one little known fact about Shannon Sharpe, the founder of Club Shay Shay, is that he actually gave his brother Sterling his first Super Bowl ring in one of the kindest brotherly gestures of all time. Given Sterling’s greatness on the field however, a Super Bowl ring was certainly earned and something he without question would have gotten soon after his final season in 1994.

So whenever there is a discussion about some of the greatest wide receivers to ever play, Sterling Sharpe’s name has to be up there as one of the most talented ever whose career got cut short due to the biggest bane of all NFL players: the injury. Sterling Sharpe must never again be a forgotten baller.