(Video) Shannon Sharpe Cries His Heart out Listening to Brother Sterling Sharpe’s Emotional HOF Speech

Shannon Sharpe finally sees his dream come true as his older brother Sterling Sharpe, whose NFL career was cut short due to injury, was inducted into the HOF.

(Video) Shannon Sharpe Cries His Heart out Listening to Brother Sterling Sharpe’s Emotional HOF Speech

Sterling Sharpe and Shannon Sharpe at Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton Ohio (Image via IMAGO/X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Shannon Sharpe’s plans to make the Hall of Fame week special for his brother, Sterling Sharpe, backfired because he lost his job on ESPN. Sharpe feared people’s focus might shift to his expulsion over Sterling’s special moment.

The 57-year-old posted a lengthy video, questioning ESPN’s motives in firing him on the same week as his brother’s HOF induction ceremony. Even though he made peace with the decision, Sharpe hoped the network would make the announcement the week after the ceremony.

Naturally, that did not happen, and Sharpe faced social media persecution. Interestingly, a section of the internet supported Sharpe’s statement and condemned the network for its timing.

The stage was set for Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen, Jared Allen, and Antonio Gates at Canton, Ohio, for the 2025 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

After Jared Allen finished his speech, it was Sterling Sharpe’s turn to receive what he had dreamed of for a long time. Sharpe thanked his first position coach in Green Bay, Buddy Geis, and Sherman Lewis, who taught him to ‘learn to follow before you can lead.”

Sterling thanked Jon Gruden for helping him become one of the best receivers of his generation.

For the final part of his speech, Sterling called his brother on stage. A speck of tear was visible through Shannon Sharpe’s shades when he walked onto the stage to join his brother.

The last time I was here, you said that you were the only pro football player in the Hall of Fame that could say this. That you were the second-best player in your own family. Well, I agree with that statement, but it would be an extreme privilege for you to be the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with two gold jackets. You see, you have to learn to follow before you can lead.

Sterling Sharpe said (H/T: NFL’s official transcript)

After that, the brothers removed the cloth to unveil Sterling Sharpe’s bust, which will be kept in the great hall. The Sharpe brothers became the first siblings to wear the Gold Jacket.

Sterling Sharpe once revealed that Jerry Jones wanted him to come out of retirement

Shannon no longer has his job on TV, but his side gig is bringing in millions in revenue. The 3x Super Bowl-winning tight end still operates two podcasts on a regular basis: Nightcap and Club Shay Shay.

(Video) Shannon Sharpe Cries His Heart out Listening to Brother Sterling Sharpe's Emotional HOF Speech
Shannon Sharpe helps his older brother and former NFL WR Sterling Sharpe wear the Gold Jacket (Image via Pro Football Network)

Sterling was the honored guest in a recent episode of Club Shay Shay. The 60-year-old made a big revelation that no one had heard before.

I think I can say this now. It’s been enough time. Jerry Jones called me at ESPN and asked me, ‘Sterling, could you play? And I said, ‘Yeah, but Jerry, I’m not going to play football anymore.’

Sterling Sharpe said

It was the same year that the Dallas Cowboys lifted their third Lombardi Trophy under Jerry Jones’ tenure. The Cowboys had Michael Irvin, and it’s scary to imagine the Cowboys’ offense if Sterling had said yes to Jones.

Sterling refused because his career tragically ended a year earlier. While playing for the Green Bay Packers, Sharpe badly injured his neck and never played football again.

During his retirement, Sterling Sharpe, a seventh overall pick out of South Carolina, played a total of 112 games, caught 595 passes for 8134 yards, and scored 65 touchdowns. Sharpe was a 3x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowler, 3x NFL receptions leader, and 2x NFL receiving touchdowns leader.

After retirement, Sharpe found solace in golf and later worked as an analyst for ESPN.

Also Read: