Former South Carolina Gamecock and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. His induction was announced on February 6, 2025, during the NFL Honors ceremony.
Deserved 🤙 https://t.co/zNyH8e3QQw
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) February 7, 2025
The Class of 2025 also includes Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, and Eric Allen. This year’s induction class is the smallest in 20 years, following new rules intended to make induction more exclusive.
Notably, Sterling will join his younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, in the Hall of Fame, marking the first time siblings have been inducted together. Shannon Sharpe had the honor of informing his brother, Sterling Sharpe, about his upcoming induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I love this: Here’s the incredible video of Shannon Sharpe surprising his brother Sterling with the news that he’s headed to the Hall of Fame.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 7, 2025
For the first time ever, two brothers are in the Hall together. What a moment.
(🎥 @ProFootballHOF @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/K6mYVkBsqk
Sterling Sharpe joins his brother, Shannon, in the HOF 🥹 pic.twitter.com/IPpPHDPdz5
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2025
Sterling Sharpe played college football at the University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1987. During his tenure, he set multiple school records, including career receptions (169), single-season receiving yards (1,106), and career receiving yards (2,497). He was recognized as a First-Team All-American in 1987. In 2014, Sharpe was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1986, Sharpe set a single-season school record with 1,106 receiving yards, a mark that stood for decades. His exceptional play earned him First-Team All-America honors in 1987.
Beyond his receiving prowess, Sharpe showcased versatility by returning both a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns during his collegiate career. In recognition of his contributions, the University of South Carolina retired his jersey number (#2) while he was still an active player.
Sharpe, the seventh overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, had an immediate impact with the Packers. In his rookie season, he started all 16 games and caught 55 passes. By his second year, he led the league with 90 receptions, becoming the first Packer to do so since Don Hutson in 1945. Throughout his seven-season career, Sharpe was invited to the Pro Bowl five times (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, and 1994).
In 1992, Sharpe achieved the rare "Triple Crown" for receivers, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He followed this by breaking his own record in 1993 with 112 receptions, making him the first player to have consecutive seasons with over 100 catches. His 18 touchdown receptions in 1994 were the second-most in league history at the time.
Despite his career being cut short by a neck injury, Sharpe's impact was profound. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and left an indelible mark on the Packers' resurgence in the 1990s. His younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, often emphasized Sterling's influence, stating he was the better player.
Sterling Sharpe's induction not only cements his legacy but also marks a historic moment as he and Shannon become the first siblings to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.