It was a long 26-year wait for NFL alum Sterling Sharpe but this weekend he joins his brother Shannon Sharpe in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
Sterling and Shannon become the first pair of brothers enshrined in Canton. There are three father & son combinations in the Hall but the Sharpe brothers are the first pair of siblings inducted there. Shannon was a member of the Hall of Fame Class in 2011.
“I never saw myself being part of this tremendous honor, “ Sterling said when he was announced as the lone Senior member of the Class of 2025. “It was something I never wished for or prayed for. All I wanted to do was play.”
Sterling held the single season NFL record for most receptions (112 in 1994) when he retired after that season. The Packers tight end became the first player in NFL history to register two 100-catch seasons. He caught 108 passes in 1992.
Sterling’s enshrinement in Canton was delayed more than a quarter-century after his retirement due to his relatively short 7-season career (1988-94). His active days ended prematurely after his record-setting 1994 season due to a neck injury.
In addition to Sterling Sharpe, the other three members of the 2025 Class are:
- CB Eric Allen is being inducted in his 19th year of eligibility.
- DE Jared Allen was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chiefs and Vikings.
- TE Antonio Gates was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted rookie in 2003 and played 16 seasons with the team.
This year’s four-member class is the smallest for the Hall since 2005. No coaches or Contributors received the required number of votes for induction.
We at NFL Alumni look forward to congratulating these four outstanding individuals in person in Canton this weekend.
