Before he was the face of Club Shay Shay or the man debating Skip Bayless on national TV, Shannon Sharpe was a nightmare for NFL defensive coordinators. If you've ever watched him on a podcast and wondered if the guy could actually play, the answer is a resounding yes. But there’s a bit of a story behind it. People often ask what position did Shannon Sharpe play because he didn't exactly fit the mold of his era.
He was a Tight End.
Well, mostly. Honestly, it took a few years and a visionary coaching change for the league to figure out exactly how to use a guy built like a Greek god but fast enough to outrun cornerbacks. He wasn't your grandpa's tight end who just stood next to the tackle and pushed people around. He changed the game.
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From Seventh-Round Nobody to Hall of Fame Tight End
When Shannon Sharpe came out of Savannah State in 1990, scouts were confused. He was a Division II star who played wide receiver (specifically a flanker) in college. He put up insane numbers—3,744 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns over four years—but the NFL wasn't sure what to do with a 6'2", 230-pound guy.
He was "too slow" to be a pure wide receiver and "too small" to be a traditional tight end.
The Denver Broncos finally took a flyer on him in the seventh round. Seventh round! That’s basically the "we hope he can play special teams" territory. For his first two seasons, he barely made a ripple. He was still technically a wide receiver, and he only caught 29 passes across those first two years combined.
The Move That Changed Everything
In 1992, Broncos head coach Dan Reeves made the call that altered NFL history. He moved Sharpe to Tight End.
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Sharpe has told this story a million times. He was terrified he was getting cut when Reeves called him into the office. Instead, Reeves asked if he’d switch positions. Shannon’s only question? "Will I get to play?"
He did.
That season, he led the Broncos with 53 catches. By 1993, he was a First-team All-Pro. He didn't just play the position; he redefined it. Before Shannon, tight ends were mostly glorified offensive linemen who caught a five-yard "look-in" pass once a game. Shannon was running deep posts and go-routes. He was a matchup nightmare. If you put a linebacker on him, Shannon was too fast. If you put a safety on him, he was too strong.
Career Stats and Those Three Super Bowl Rings
Sharpe’s career wasn't just about longevity; it was about dominance. He played 14 seasons in total—12 with the Denver Broncos and two with the Baltimore Ravens.
By the time he hung up his cleats in 2003, he held every major record for his position. He was the first tight end to ever cross the 10,000 receiving yards mark. Just think about that. In an era where the rules didn't protect receivers like they do now, a guy lining up in the trenches racked up five figures in yardage.
- Receptions: 815
- Receiving Yards: 10,060
- Touchdowns: 62
- Pro Bowls: 8
- All-Pro Selections: 4 (First-team)
He didn't just pad stats in garbage time, either. He was a winner. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with John Elway and the Broncos (XXXII and XXXIII) and then went to Baltimore and won another one (XXXV) with one of the greatest defenses in history.
Remember the 96-yard touchdown in the 2000 AFC Championship game? That was Shannon. On a 3rd-and-18 from their own 4-yard line, Trent Dilfer threw a short pass, and Shannon just... went. He outran everyone. It’s still the longest touchdown catch in NFL playoff history.
Why Shannon Sharpe Still Matters Today
You can’t talk about modern stars like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, or Rob Gronkowski without mentioning Shannon. He was the prototype for the "move" tight end.
Back in the 90s, the idea of a tight end leading a team in receiving was almost unheard of. Shannon did it six times for the Broncos and once for the Ravens. He forced defenses to change how they drafted players. You needed "Sharpe-stoppers"—bigger safeties who could actually run.
The Sterling Sharpe Connection
It’s also worth noting that Shannon wasn't even the most hyped athlete in his own family early on. His older brother, Sterling Sharpe, was an absolute superstar for the Green Bay Packers. Sterling’s career was tragically cut short by a neck injury, but Shannon always credits his brother for teaching him how to be a professional. When Shannon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, he famously said he was the only player in the Hall who was the second-best player in his own family.
That’s the kind of humility (mixed with a whole lot of trash talk) that made him a legend.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you’re looking to truly appreciate what Shannon Sharpe did on the field, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the 2000 AFC Championship Highlights: Specifically that 96-yarder against the Raiders. It perfectly encapsulates why he was a "wide receiver in a tight end's body."
- Compare the Eras: Look at the tight end stats from 1990 to 2000. You’ll see a massive gap between Shannon and almost everyone else, with the exception of maybe Tony Gonzalez toward the end of that decade.
- Check Out His Hall of Fame Speech: It is widely considered one of the best ever given in Canton. It gives you a real look into the "why" behind his legendary work ethic.
Shannon Sharpe wasn't just a "talking head" who happened to play football. He was a revolutionary at the tight end position who paved the way for the high-flying, pass-heavy NFL we watch every Sunday. He played with a chip on his shoulder the size of a mountain, and he has the rings to prove it worked.
Next Steps: You might want to look into the 2011 Hall of Fame class to see who Shannon was inducted with—it was a legendary group including Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk. Alternatively, digging into the "Shannon Sharpe vs. Tony Gonzalez" GOAT debate is a great way to spend an afternoon if you love football history.