‘More than icing on the cake.’ Sterling Sharpe ready for Hall of Fame moment
It will be a history-making week for Sterling Sharpe.
The former University of South Carolina receiver will become the first Gamecock in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he’s enshrined Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
Sharpe, who played seven seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, is part of this year’s Hall of Fame class that includes defensive back Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen and tight end Antonio Gates.
“To be the first South Carolina Gamecock in the Pro Football Hall of Fame … it is a big deal. You can’t get to the NFL without getting to college. The University of South Carolina provided me an opportunity to come here and play. I got a chance to play with some outstanding teammates,” Sharpe said Monday after being part of the winning team for the fourth time at the annual Birdies with Beamer golf tournament. “Being here in Columbia and being in Green Bay, two towns that love their teams, regardless of if you play for two weeks, two months or two years. You are a Gamecock or a Green Bay Packer forever, and I love that.
“Very happy to represent my school and be the first representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Sharpe was one of the greatest to put on a Gamecock uniform and was a two-time All-American during playing days from 1983-87. He left USC as the school’s all-time leading receiver with 169 catches for 2,497 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 1986, he caught 74 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Sharpe had his jersey No. 2 retired following the 1987 season, joining George Rogers as the second Gamecock to have their jerseys retired while they were still active at the school. He was inducted into USC’s Hall of Fame in 2000 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Sharpe has remained in the Columbia area since his NFL playing career ended and is still a big fan of the Gamecocks, although he admitted he hasn’t been to a game since his college days.
“Congrats to you and everything you stand for and everything you have done for South Carolina athletics and this football program,” USC coach Shane Beamer said during his press conference Monday while looking toward Sharpe. “Fired up for you.”
Being the first Gamecock in the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t the only history Sharpe is making this week. He also joins brother Shannon as the first pair of brothers to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shannon Sharpe, who spent 14 seasons in the NFL mainly with the Denver Broncos, was inducted in 2011 and said he was the second-best player in his family behind his brother during his Hall of Fame speech.
Shannon Sharpe delivered the news to his brother of the selection in a video that Pro Football Hall of Fame released back in February, calling it the “proudest moment of his life” that his older brother was finally getting the recognition he deserved.
Sterling Sharpe is part of Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Class, which selects one to three players per year whose career ended in 1999 or earlier. A neck injury ended Sharpe’s NFL career in 1994, and he is just one of 13 players to go into the Hall of Fame after playing no more than eight seasons.
In his seven seasons, the former seventh overall draft pick put up huge numbers for the Packers from 1988-94. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time first-team All-Pro, led the NFL in receptions three times and was the first player to record two 100-catch seasons.
Sharpe’s best overall season came in 1992, when he led the NFL with 108 catches for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had 112 catches in 1993 and led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in his final season.
“I might not have played as long as someone may have wanted me to play. I might not have played as well as someone wanted me to play. But I got to play. And that is all I ever asked for,” Sharpe said. “We are going to relish this opportunity. The biggest thing is being one half of the first brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My brother is getting in on Thursday and we are going to spend a lot of time together. We are going to enjoy our time together in Canton.”
In addition to his brother, Sterling said he will be joined this week in Canton by family members, some of his former high school coaches, NFL coaches, teammates and friends. As of Monday, Sharpe said he didn’t have his speech prepared yet. He admitted he’s not a crier, so he wasn’t sure how emotional his speech will be.
But one thing is for sure: Sharpe plans to soak in the moment and opportunity to be immortalized with the best to ever play in the NFL.
“My dream was to play football in the NFL. I got a chance to fulfill my dream,” Sharpe said. “... “I don’t have any (emotions) right now. I did everything I wanted to do. I wanted to play and I did that. This is more than icing on the cake. I’m sure once I hit Canton on Wednesday afternoon it will probably set in and be more surreal. But right now, it is business as usual.”
Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Canton, Ohio
TV/Stream: ESPN and NFL Network
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 9:56 AM with the headline "‘More than icing on the cake.’ Sterling Sharpe ready for Hall of Fame moment."
