Sterling Sharpe Biography Sterling Sharpe born April 6, 1965 is a former professional football player known for his career as a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was part of the NFL from 1988 to 1994. Sharpe’s career was unfortunately cut short due to a neck injury, but he later transitioned into a role as an analyst for the NFL Network. He is the older brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe.
Sterling Sharpe Biography
Sterling Sharpe is a former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and had a seven-season career in the NFL from 1988 to 1994. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a neck injury. After retiring from football, Sharpe transitioned to a role as an analyst for the NFL Network. He is also the older brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe.
Sterling Sharpe Biography Details 2025
| Born: | April 6, 1965 (age 59) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) |
| High school: | Glennville (GA) |
| College: | South Carolina |
| NFL draft: | 1988 / round: 1 / pick: 7 |
| Category | Football Biographies |
About Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and played in the NFL from 1988 to 1994 with the Packers in a career shortened by a neck injury.
- Born: 6 April 1965 (age 59 years), Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Hall of fame induction: 9 December 2014
- Number: 84 (Green Bay Packers / Wide receiver), 2 (South Carolina Gamecocks football / Wide receiver)
- Career end: 1994
- Position: Wide receiver
- Education: University of South Carolina
- Height: 83 m
Early Life and College Career
Sharpe was born in Chicago to Pete Sharpe and Mary Alice Dixon. He grew up in Glennville, Georgia, where he was raised by his grandparents and played multiple sports. He excelled in football, playing running back, quarterback, and linebacker at Glennville High School. In addition to football, Sharpe was also involved in basketball and track.
At the University of South Carolina, Sharpe made a name for himself as a wide receiver. He set school records with 169 career receptions, 2,497 receiving yards, and 17 career touchdowns, a record that stood until it was broken by Sidney Rice in 2005. Sharpe also set the school record for single-season receiving touchdowns with 11, a record that was later broken in 2005. His impressive college career earn him the honor of having his No. 2 jersey retire at South Carolina, making him the second Gamecock to receive this honor while still active.
Professional Career
Sharpe was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft, with the seventh overall pick. He quickly made an impact, starting all 16 games of his rookie season and catching 55 passes. In his second year, he led the NFL with 90 receptions, becoming the first Packers player to do so since Don Hutson in 1945. He also broke Hutson’s records for both receptions and receiving yards in a season. Known for his toughness and strong hands, Sharpe was unafraid to make difficult catches in the middle of the field.
In 1992, Sharpe teamed up with newly acquired quarterback Brett Favre, and together they formed one of the most formidable passing duos in the league. That season, Sharpe set a new NFL single-season receptions record with 107 catches, surpassing Art Monk’s 1984 record. He also became one of only eight players in NFL history to win the “Triple Crown” at the receiver position, leading the league in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions.
Before Fame
He was the second Gamecock to have his jersey retired by the University of South Carolina while he was still playing college football.
Trivia
He was induct into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Family Life
His brother, Shannon Sharpe, was a three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end.
Associated With
He was the first player after Jerry Rice to lead the league in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Sterling Sharpe Net Worth 2025
Sterling Sharpe’s career earnings through 2025 were $8,542,108. As of 2025, his net worth was estimate at $10 million.