Shannon Sharpe Elected to the NFL Hall of Fame

Shannon Sharpe is elected into the NFL Hall of Fame. (courtesy: SI.com)

It what some fans believed to be a long shot; former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe has been elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Sharpe joins John Elway, Gary Zimmerman and Floyd Little as the fourth member of the Broncos to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sharpe was the NFL’s all time leader in reception yardage for a tight end until 1998; he was also the first tight end to amass more than 10,000 yards in his career.

The Denver great finished his career as it began, with the Broncos, he spent two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (accruing one more Super Bowl victory). His career stats include: 10,060 receiving yards; 62 touchdowns; 815 receptions; and averaging 12.3 yards per reception.

Sharpe finished his NFL career as an eight time Pro Bowler, four time All Pro and three time Super Bowl winner.

Perhaps the man could be best summed up by his most famous quote… While playing the New England Patriots Sharpe said into a sideline telephone, “Mr. President, call in the National Guard! We need as many men as you can spare! Because we are killing the Patriots! We’ll call the dogs off! Send the National Guard please! (during a 34 – 8 rout vs. the Patriots on November 17, 1996).”

Press release below. (Including quotes from Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and Vice President of Football Operations John Elway.)

—

DALLAS — Former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe (1990-99, 2002-03) was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011, it was announced on Saturday at the Dallas Sheraton Super Bowl XLV Media Center.

Sharpe will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 6, in a ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. He joins tackle Gary Zimmerman (1993-97, Class of 2008), quarterback John Elway (1983-98, Class of 2004) and running back Floyd Little (1967-75, Class of 2010) as Pro Football Hall of Famers who spent a primary portion of their career with the Broncos.

Sharpe played 12 seasons for the Broncos (1990-99, 2002-03) and two years with the Ravens (2000-01), winning three Super Bowls and finishing his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060) and receiving touchdowns (62) by a tight end. Selected by Denver in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft from Savannah State University, Sharpe set a league record at his position with eight Pro Bowls (7 as a Bronco) and was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team.

A four-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro who was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2009, Sharpe has participated in more overall wins (137) than any tight end in NFL history. He helped the Broncos to two Super Bowl victories (1997-98) and added his third World Championship as a member of the Ravens in 2000.

Sharpe ranks second in Broncos history in receptions (675), receiving yards (8,439) and receiving touchdowns (55). He saw time in 172 games (139 starts) during his 12 seasons in Denver and posted three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including a career-high 1,107 yards in 1997.

He totaled at least 100 receiving yards in a game 20 times for his 14-year NFL career, including 18 times as a Bronco.

The tight end participated in 204 career regular-season games (169 starts) for his career, totaling 815 receptions for 10,060 yards with 62 touchdowns. In the playoffs, Sharpe played 18 games (all starts) and had 62 catches for 814 yards with four touchdowns.

QUOTE FROM BRONCOS OWNER & CEO PAT BOWLEN ON SHANNON SHARPE:

“This is a great day for Shannon Sharpe individually as well as for the Denver Broncos’ entire organization and our fans. Shannon has made immeasurable contributions to this franchise and the NFL, and he deservedly will take his place among the greatest to play this game in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Shannon was a key leader on our back-to-back Super Bowl teams who set the bar for which all tight ends are measured after his record-setting career. He had such a presence in our locker room, and his work ethic was unmatched. I really enjoyed my personal relationship with him when he played here. Shannon is a winner in every sense of the word and was a big part of some of the best years in Broncos history. He belongs with football’s elite in the Hall of Fame. ”

QUOTE FROM BRONCOS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS JOHN ELWAY ON SHANNON SHARPE:

“I am thrilled for Shannon Sharpe on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s great to see another Bronco in the Hall of Fame and part of the club. It’s a well-deserved honor, and I’m proud of him. This caps off a tremendous football career by a guy who truly was self-made and worked his tail off to become one of the best players in the history of the NFL.”