JASON WILDE
For the State Journal
PACKERS
GREEN BAY -- Three decades after his NFL playing career ended far too early, legendary Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe finally got the call to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday night -- better late than never.
Super Bowl XXXI-winning head coach Mike Holmgren, meanwhile, will have to wait at least another year. And perhaps longer than that.
The 59-year-old Sharpe, who was the best receiver in the game before a 1994 neck injury ended his career after just seven seasons, was elected to the Hall as one of three nominees from the seniors committee after never having been a finalist during his modern-era eligibility.
He learned of his selection from his younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, a former tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens who is already in the Hall, making the Sharpes the first brother tandem in Canton.
People are also reading... Two Onalaska teens charged in armed burglary in La Crosse Cybersecurity event shuts down systems at newspaper Police release name of Bangor man killed in car crash Kitchen Solvers moves; Ichiddo Ramen to open soon in former Fayze's location - Steve Cahalan Man arrested in Vernon County on federal charges for international firearms trafficking Festival Foods, Gordy's founder settle lawsuit over $500K debt 5 La Crosse area high school boys stars of the week: Feb. 4 edition La Crosse County Dairy Breakfast canceled due to lack of volunteers Here's your look at content planned for Saturday's La Crosse Tribune Candidates for La Crosse mayor take debate stage Thursday All Smiles Implants and Family Dental accepting appointments - Steve Cahalan Onalaska structure sustains significant fire damage Sunday La Crosse area could see several inches of snow in mid-week storm, but track still uncertain La Crosse mayor hopefuls share visions on immigration, finances and housing in forum Tony Evers promises to veto GOP bill requiring counties to aid in immigration crackdown
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl winner, was hoping to join his older brother Peyton in the Hall, but he was not selected.
The four-person 2025 class includes Sharpe, defensive end Jared Allen, cornerback Eric Allen and tight end Antonio Gates. The class was introduced during the annual NFL Honors gala in advance of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
The 76-year-old Holmgren, who coached the Packers for seven seasons (1992-'98) and the Seattle Seahawks for 10 more (1999-2008), was the designated coaching nominee but did not meet the 80% vote threshold to be elected.
Rules allow for only one coaching candidate each year, and next year, six-time Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would be eligible. Sharpe was a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler in his seven NFL seasons.
A 1988 first-round pick from South Carolina, he led the NFL in receptions three times (1989, 1992, 1993) but was forced to retire late in the 1994 season, two years before the Packers' 1996 team -- coached by Holmgren and quarterbacked by Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre -- won the franchise's first title in 29 years.
"If Sterling doesn't get hurt," said former Packers assistant coach Andy Reid, now aiming for his fourth Super Bowl title and third in a row as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach, "he goes down as maybe the greatest wide receiver to play in the game." Sharpe set the NFL single-season reception record in 1992 -- Holmgren's first season as coach -- with 108 receptions, then topped it in 1993 with 112 catches.
Sharpe is the 29th member of the Packers to be selected to the Hall.
"On behalf of the entire Green Bay Packers organization, I want to congratulate Sterling on his long overdue election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He left an indelible mark as one of the greatest players of his generation, while also directly contributing to the revival of the Packers during the 1990s," Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy said in a statement. "We are extremely happy for Sterling and his family and are forever grateful for all that he gave and accomplished with the Packers."
Sharpe finished his seven-year career having caught 595 passes for 8,134 yards (13.7 avg.) and 65 touchdowns in 112 regular-season games. But after sustaining neck stingers in each of the final two games of the 1994 regular season, Sharpe was forced to undergo surgery to fuse two vertebrae, and when he declined a major pay cut for the 1995 season amid the uncertainty of his future, the Packers released him.
Ultimately, Sharpe never gained clearance to play again.
"I would say for the (Hall of Fame) voters: Don't not vote for him because his career was shortened. I know that other players have gotten into the Hall of Fame with shortened careers due to injury," Favre said in 2015, the year before he was elected to the Hall.
"Had he continued to play, there's no telling what type of numbers he would have continued to put up. He would've been the best receiver by far that I played with. For a twoyear span, he was by far the best. He was an unbelievable player."
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.