Football
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Hall of Fame inductee Sterling Sharpe received a familial welcoming into pro football’s most exclusive club.
Sharpe’s brother, Shannon—who is a 2011 inductee of the Hall of Fame—invited his older brother over and donned a gold jacket to surprise Sterling with the news that he would be headed for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.
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.@ShannonSharpe telling his brother Sterling Sharpe that he’s finally made the @ProFootballHOF will move you to tears. ???? #PFHOF25 pic.twitter.com/Rub1iJLu1X
“All those nights in that 1,000-square foot home, all those prayers that Granny and Libby prayed that we didn’t even know God was listening to,” Shannon said to Sterling. “To have this moment, and I have had some great moments in my professional life, this is the proudest moment in my life.”
Sterling, who is three years older than Shannon, played seven NFL seasons as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers. He had 595 catches for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns in his career. He was named to five Pro Bowls and was named First Team All-Pro three times.
His career was cut short due to a neck injury, and he joined NFL Network shortly after as an analyst. He was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in the senior category alongside Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer. The category consists of players whose last professional game was before 1999.
Sharpe joins Antonio Gates, Jared Allen and Eric Allen as 2025 inductees. It is the smallest class since 2005. Sterling and Shannon will also become the first brothers enshrined in Canton.
The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place on Aug. 2.
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