Pro Football Hall of Fame: Sterling Sharpe’s wait could be over

One of the best players in the history of the South Carolina football program is Sterling Sharpe. #2 had his jersey retired as one of the top wide receivers and kick returners to ever play at Williams-Brice Stadium. He is a member of the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame and the College Football HOF, but induction into the Pro Football HOF has remained elusive for Sharpe up to this point.

Amazingly, Sharpe was even better as a professional than he was in college. In his seven-year NFL career, the Green Bay Packers superstar was a top-2 receiver in the game along with Jerry Rice. Unfortunately, a neck injury ended his career after just seven seasons, and that lack of longevity has been one of the major factors keeping Sharpe out of the Hall.

However, that could be changing soon.

For the second year in a row, Sterling Sharpe was selected as one of 12 finalists for enshrinement via the senior committee of the Pro Football HOF. That means that Sharpe was chosen as one of the top-12 players ever who is still not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and who ended his career prior to 1998.

The other 11 finalists are Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Randy Gradishar, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Steve McMichael, Eddie Meador, Art Powell, Otis Taylor, and Al Wistert. As great as those 11 players were, none of them were as good as Sterling Sharpe.

In just seven seasons, Sterling Sharpe led the NFL in receptions three times (including breaking the all-time record for receptions in 1992 and  again in1993), in receiving touchdowns twice, and in receiving yards once. He is also one of just a handful of players who have ever pulled off the “Receiver’s Triple Crown” when he led the league in catches, touchdowns, and yards in 1992.

He made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams during his career, as well. Sterling Sharpe is about as “Hall of Fame” as it gets.

Sharpe’s younger brother Shannon was elected to the Pro Football HOF in 2011. In his memorable acceptance speech, the younger Sharpe remarked that he was “the only player, out of the 267 men [in the Pro Football HOF]…who can honestly say this: I am the only pro football player that is in the Hall of Fame who is the second-best player in my own family.”

Sharpe is joined by former Gamecock standout Dan Reeves as a finalist for Hall of Fame enshrinement as Reeves is a finalist in the coaches/contributors division.

Both Sharpe and Reeves will discover later in August whether they will be part of final consideration for the Pro Football HOF class of 2024.