Shannon Sharpe is known to football fans for his 14 years in the NFL as a tight end for the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens. During those years, football wasn’t just his job, it was an all-consuming passion that overshadowed every other aspect of his life. “I ate, I drank, I slept and thought football,” Sharpe recalled of his NFL work ethic when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “That’s all I wanted to do,” he added. “I didn’t take vacations, I didn’t own a yacht, I didn’t have a whole bunch of hobbies other than working out and getting ready for the upcoming season.”
Of course, since retiring from the NFL, Sharpe has reinvented himself as a media personality. Not only has he earned renown for his brash and sometimes controversial opinions as a football commentator, he’s also carved out a niche for himself in the competitive podcasting milieu, where he entertains millions of listeners who keep tuning in to hear him interview an array of celebrities, ranging from athletes to comedians to Hollywood stars, and everything in between. To find out more about his amazing journey from dedicated football player to TV personality and celebrity, read on for a deep dive into the dramatic transformation of Shannon Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe followed in the footsteps of his older brother, NFL wide receiver Sterling Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe grew up in Glennville, Georgia, and it’s fair to say that he wasn’t born with a proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. “We were so poor, a robber once broke into our house and we ended up robbing the robber,” he has joked, as reported by The Denver Post. Beyond a lack of money, his childhood was difficult in other ways, including his parents’ divorce, and then losing his father to lung cancer when he was just 8 years old.
Despite those obvious setbacks, young Sharpe was a star athlete from an early age. Back then, he emulated his older brother, Sterling Sharpe, who spent seven seasons as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, playing for the team from 1988 until 1995. In high school, Shannon became an all-state athlete in three different sports – football, basketball, and track and field — but it was football that really got him noticed — not surprising, considering he excelled as running back, quarterback, and linebacker.
His talent at football took him to Savannah State University, where he played for the Savannah State Tigers. During those years, his tenure as a college athlete was nothing less than spectacular. In addition to being chosen for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team for three years, he was also named SIAC Player of the Year in 1987. His stats were no less impressive, including 192 receptions (totaling over 3,700 yards) and 40 touchdowns. There was little doubt that his next stop would be the NFL.
Shannon Sharpe entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick
Even though Shannon Sharpe had been a college football phenom, he wasn’t deemed to be a top prospect for the NFL. That, however, had less to do with his considerable skills than with his size. Sharpe was 6-feet-2-inches and 230 pounds, so he was seen among the league’s upper echelon of athletes as being too small to block as a tight end, but too large to run as a wide receiver. As a result, when he entered the 1990 NFL draft, he wasn’t picked up until the seventh round, when he was chosen by the Denver Broncos as the 192nd pick overall.
Despite that ignominious entry to the NFL, Sharpe went on to prove his prowess and play 10 seasons as tight end with the Denver Broncos. During the 1997 season, he led the team to victory at the Super Bowl, and then did the same the following year. In 2000, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens, winning his third Super Bowl during his first season with the team. After two seasons with Baltimore, he came full circle by completing his career where it began, playing his final two NFL seasons for the Broncos before retiring at the end of the 2003 season. During his impressive run in the NFL, Sharpe caught 815 receptions, ran over 10,000 yards, and scored 62 touchdowns along the way.
He headed to CBS as a football analyst
Interestingly, Shannon Sharpe may have remained with the Denver Broncos for another season had a lucrative opportunity not arisen. As ESPN reported in 2004, he had announced plans to remain in the NFL for a 15th season, until news emerged that he was the top contender to take over for Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders on “The NFL Today,” when Sanders exited the CBS network’s popular pregame show. Shortly after that report, ESPN confirmed that Sharpe had landed the gig.
“I’m very excited to be brought on board,” Sharpe gushed when the announcement was officially made, indicating he’d be bringing the same work ethic that propelled him to the top of the NFL. “I’m going to be good at this because I’m going to work hard at it,” he added. Sharpe also explained why he waffled about his retirement. “You’re always going to feel that you can play but at some point and time you’re going to have to walk away from the game,” he said. “And this opportunity might not be there.”
Sharpe had a great run on CBS, remaining with the network for a decade — until 2014, when CBS let him go, along with former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. Interviewed by The Denver Post (via NBC Sports), Sharpe admitted he accepted his fate — even if he didn’t like it. “Am I sad and disappointed? Absolutely,” he said.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011
Years after he left the NFL with three Super Bowl wins, Shannon Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. During his speech, Sharpe credited his success in the NFL to what he called the three Ds: determination, dedication, and discipline. “Three traits that translate in any generation and any job setting,” he expressed. “There is a reason they called it chasing your dreams and not walking after them. Don’t hope someone gives you an opportunity, create one for yourself.”
More than a decade later, Sharpe looked back on the honor while appearing on his “Nightcap” podcast. When asked whether it was a bigger honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame or to possess a Super Bowl ring, he jokingly expressed relief that he’d never have to ponder that question — because he’s got both! In all seriousness, though, he ultimately revealed he felt that being in the Hall of Fame was a far more prestigious accomplishment.
Explaining his rationale, Sharpe noted that each winning Super Bowl team contains about 80 players, translating to a lot of athletes with Super Bowl bragging rights. “So, if you go back, there’s like 25,000 men that have got Super Bowl rings,” Sharpe mused. “There’s less than 500 men that’s in the Hall of Fame … For me, it’s a no-brainer.”
He’s LeBron James’ biggest fan
In addition to sharing his expertise in professional football, Shannon Sharpe is also a keen fan of basketball. When it comes to the NBA, Sharpe believes there’s one player who’s head and shoulders above all his peers: Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Not only is he one of James’ friends, Sharpe is also a regular presence at Laker games, where he vocally cheers on the player whom he’s lauded on numerous occasions as the greatest of all time. So serious is Sharpe about that belief, he underlined it by wearing a goat mask (referencing James’ status as Greatest Of All Time) when appearing alongside Stephen A. Smith on the ESPN show, “First Take.” “You are unbelievable, man,” Smith told Sharpe. “Where the hell did you find that mask?”
That admiration goes both ways, as James proved when he sang Sharpe’s praises during a post-game press conference. “I ride with Shannon 365 days — 366 on a leap year — 24/7,” King James declared. “So that’s my guy. I always got his back. And he’s got mine. He can talk with the best of them, for sure.”
Shannon Sharpe teamed up with Skip Bayless for Undisputed
After Shannon Sharpe was cut by CBS, he could have easily retired, but instead cast around for another television gig. “I’m going to work because I want to not because I have to,” he told the Denver Post, as reported by NBC Sports, insisting he wasn’t going to jump on the first offer to come his way. “I don’t have to rush into anything because I’m under no financial strain or obligation,” he explained. “I’m going to weigh all my options.”
That consideration led him to team up with sports journalist Skip Bayless for “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” a sports show for Fox’s fledgling Fox Sports 1 network. The show, which launched in 2016, featured Bayless and Sharpe facing off on sports-related debates, and Bayless understood his on-air opponent would be no pushover. “I love the matchup with Shannon, [him] having played the game at an extremely high level versus my NFL expertise,” Bayless told the Los Angeles Times.
The show imploded in 2023, when Bayless pointed out that legendary quarterback Tom Brady was still performing at a top level at age 45, while Sharpe had retired from the NFL at 35. “He’s way better than you were!” Bayless proclaimed. Sharpe was beyond taken aback by that personal attack. “You would disrespect me to support him?” Sharpe fired back. That on-air battle was bitter, and ended the on-air partnership. During a subsequent appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Sharpe explained he could no longer work with Bayless due to the constant disrespect he was feeling from him.
He hosts multiple podcasts
In 2020, it was announced that Shannon Sharpe would be hosting a new podcast, “Club Shay Shay,” with the debut episode featuring Sharpe’s older brother, former Green Bay Packers star Sterling Sharpe. By 2022, “Club Shay Shay” had become one of the highest-performing sports podcasts on Spotify, hitting No. 2 on Apple Podcasts Sports Chart.
Sharpe, however, wasn’t content to be a part of just one hit podcast, and in 2023, he teamed up with fellow NFL veteran Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson for “Nightcap.” Unlike “Club Shay Shay,” in which Sharpe sat down with a different celebrity each episode for an in-depth interview, “Nightcap” recapped the most pressing sports-related news of the day.
“Club Shay Shay,” however, remains Sharpe’s bread and butter, and he went viral thanks to his absolutely bonkers 2024 interviews with comedian Katt Williams, which raked in a staggering 74 million views, as of this writing, thanks to Williams’ scorched-earth dissing of other comedians. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Sharpe admitted that he hadn’t been prepared for the level of success that his podcast had achieved. “I’m bigger now than at any point in my career,” Sharpe said, marveling at how his podcasting had made him more famous than his storied football career. “I would be lying if I told you I expected this,” he added.
He was sued by former NFL QB Brett Favre for defamation
Like Shannon Sharpe, former NFL great Brett Favre has been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, thanks to his 20-season career with the NFL, the majority of which was as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Favre made headlines when he was among those identified by Mississippi’s state auditor to have allegedly received and spent money meant for state welfare funds on projects benefiting the wealthy, Sharpe couldn’t help but share his opinion. During an episode of “Undisputed,” Sharpe blasted Favre for what he perceived to be ripping off money from underprivileged people who could really have used it.
Those comments rankled Favre enough that he filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Sharpe of defamation. He also filed a similar suit against sports talk show host Pat McAfee, in both suits alleging that McAfee and Sharpe were guilty of stating “outrageous falsehoods.” As it turned out, both those suits were tossed out of court; as AP reported, a judge ruled that Sharpe had used “rhetorical hyperbole” in criticizing Favre, which didn’t meet the standard of defamation.
Favre, however, was not willing to let it drop and attempted to reinstate the lawsuits. Sadly (for Favre, at least), a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit backed up the judge’s initial ruling, and refused to give Favre’s legal actions a second chance.
His home was burglarized in a $1 million robbery
In 2023, Shannon Sharpe’s Los Angeles home was targeted for a robbery. The former player had gone out to dinner with some friends, and had only been away from his abode for a few hours. During that time, however, a burglar — or burglars — entered and made off with an estimated $1 million in valuables, including jewelry, high-end watches, and some ritzy designer bags.
According to law enforcement sources, Sharpe noticed that something wasn’t quite right upon his return, and immediately called police. Sources told TMZ that there were no indications of forced entry, and that an investigation had been launched.
Sharpe took matters into his own hands by offering $50,000 to anyone who could provide information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the culprit/culprits. Despite that hefty reward, no arrests were ever made, and whoever ripped him off remains at large.
Shannon Sharpe joined ESPN
Just a few months after being robbed, Shannon Sharpe made headlines once again when he was hired by ESPN. According to an August 2023 ESPN press release, Sharpe was tapped to join outspoken sports analyst Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on “First Take,” set to appear on the show each Monday and Tuesday throughout the NFL season.
“It never hurts to have a 3-time Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Famer on the show. And it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a friend,” Smith said in a statement, adding, “Buckle up, folks. Here we come!” Sharpe also issued a statement about his new gig, which would pit him on the opposing side of Smith’s viewpoints. “I’m excited to announce this fall I’ll take my on air talents to ESPN’s ‘First Take’ and debate my friend Stephen A. Smith,” he said. “GET YOUR POPCORN READY.”
The back-and-forth between Sharpe and Smith while talking football was every bit as explosively entertaining as ESPN execs had hoped, and just a few months later Sharpe entered into a new deal with the network. According to a tweet issued by ESPN, Sharpe had been invited to remain with the show to share his opinions on other sports, with his contract extended throughout the remainder of the NBA season. “Being a part of this family has been a blessing and everything about this relationship with ESPN, Stephen A. Smith and ‘First Take’ has been tremendous,” Sharpe proclaimed in a statement about his new ESPN deal.
He accidentally broadcasted a sex tape on Instagram Live
In September 2024, Shannon Sharpe took to social media and wound up showing his followers a lot more than he intended. As TMZ reported, he inadvertently broadcast footage via Instagram Live of what appeared to be him having sex with a woman named Michelle. While Sharpe’s face wasn’t seen in the video, the woman’s audible moans of pleasure could be heard throughout the livestream. In its wake, he left a message on X, claiming that his Instagram account had been hacked (which he subsequently deleted).
He came clean on the next episode of “Nightcap,” revealing the whole thing was an accident on par with an inadvertent “butt-dial” phone call. “I came in, I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity,” Sharpe recalled. “I did not know IG live … I’ve never turned IG live on so I don’t know how it works and all of sudden my other phone is going off and people are calling me.”
He also confirmed that he had been fibbing about being hacked, revealing that after conferring with his agents and ESPN representatives, he decided to tell the truth. “My phone wasn’t hacked, it wasn’t a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male,” he said.
He reportedly cashed in on his sex-tape scandal with a line of branded merch
While a similar incident sunk the ESPN broadcasting career of former NBA star Paul Pierce (who was fired after an Instagram Live post in which he appeared with a group of scantily clad exotic dancers), Shannon Sharpe didn’t wind up receiving any long-term fallout from the accidental broadcast of his sex tape on social media.
In fact, Sharpe responded by simultaneously demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and his sense of humor when he unveiled a line of branded merchandise utilizing the name of the woman who co-starred with him. In an Instagram post (which was reported by Complex before Sharpe deleted it), he wrote, “That’s My Michelle shirts dropped. I told yall to leave that lady alone, but yall kept harassing Unc — knowing that man ain’t got but 1 good nerve left, thanks to [“Nightcap” co-host] Chad [“Ochocinco” Johnson] — so here we are. Are you happy now?”
According to Awful Announcing, “That’s My Michelle” t-shirts were available on Sharpe’s Eighty Four website, selling for $32 (jokingly produced by the “Nightclap Film Dept.”). Another shirt, reading “69 Michelle” (spoofing the logo of 76 gas stations), declared the woman to be the “Official Fuel of Nightcap.” Those shirts are no longer available on the site, having either sold out or been discontinued by Sharpe.
