Looking back at the NFL career of Shannon Sharpe

Former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe
Former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe

Shannon Sharpe is known for his popular talk show with Skip Bayless called Skip and Shannon: Undisputed. But long before that, he enjoyed a 14-year Hall of Fame NFL career as a member of the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.

Sharpe, who has recorded 815 catches, 10,060 receiving yards and 62 touchdowns, is considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

Following a collegiate career at Savannah State, he was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round (192nd overall pick) of the 1990 NFL Draft.

Sharpe had a breakout year during his third season, leading the Broncos with 53 receptions and finishing second on the team with 640 receiving yards.

The Glennville, Georgia native would play seven more seasons in Denver (during his first stint with the club) and teamed with fellow Hall of Famers like John Elway and Terrell Davis to win back-to-back Super Bowls (XXXII and XXXIII)

Shannon Sharpe's two-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens before ending his career back in Denver

Super Bowl XLV - Pro Football Hall of Fame Announces 2011 Class Enshrinees
Super Bowl XLV - Pro Football Hall of Fame Announces 2011 Class Enshrinees

In February 2000, Sharpe left Denver and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent. That year, the Ravens had one of the NFL's most dominant defenses of all time, led by guys like Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Chris McAlister.

But you couldn't overlook a star on the other side of the ball in Shannon Sharpe. During the 2000 AFC Championship Game against the Oakland Raiders, he came up with an insane 96-yard touchdown catch as the Ravens went on to reach the Super Bowl.

Sharpe played two years with the Ravens, winning a Super Bowl during the 2000 season and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl the following year.

In 2002, he returned to Denver and played the final two seasons of his outstanding career. He finished with three Super Bowl rings (two with the Broncos and one with the Ravens) and made eight Pro Bowls.

The player led Denver in receiving six times and the Ravens on one occasion. He was also named first-team All-Pro and All-AFC four times, and earned a spot on the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team.

Shannon Sharpe produced over 60 receptions 10 times and eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yard-mark in three different seasons. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

That's not bad for someone who's known more for arguing with Skip Bayless on a daily basis than his football career.

Quick Links