Sterling Sharpe may finally break into Hall of Fame after finalist news

The Green Bay Packers have their fair share of Hall of Fame players, but one name that has been conspicuously left out has been wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. His career-ending injury after just seven seasons had left him unable to hit the counting stat barometers many want to see from Canton inductees.

Sharpe has been banking on the Gale Sayers and Calvin Johnson arguments as he tries to join his brother, Denver Broncos legendary tight end Shannon Sharpe, in Canton. The career was short, and the prime even shorter, but his dominance in that time frame should get him into those hallowed halls.

The NFL announced five senior 2025 Hall of Fame finalists, including three players and Sharpe's coach in Packers Super Bowl winner Mike Holmgren. Sharpe will be up for induction alongside former Eagles and Rams linebacker Maxie Baughan and Chiefs left tackle Jim Tyrer.

If Sharpe ends up getting 80 percent of the vote, he will finally earn his long overdue spot in Canton alongside the other great players of his day. For a half-decade, the only wide receiver in Sharpe's league across the NFL was Jerry Rice. That alone is worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Packers legend Sterling Sharpe one step closer to Hall of Fame induction

Sharpe, a former No. 7 overall pick, caught 595 passes for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns in just seven seasons with the Packers. Sharpe was named a Pro Bowler five times and a First-Team All-Pro performer three times, all while tallying two top-five finishes for Offensive Player of the Year and two top-ten places in MVP voting.

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Sharpe averaged nearly 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in his last three seasons in the pros, as a career-ending neck injury forced him to retire after 1994. In his career, Sharpe led the NFL in catches three times, touchdown receptions twice, and yards once.

Keep in mind, Sharpe was putting these numbers during the prime of Jerry Rice's career, and he often exceeded what the San Francisco immortal put up. Sharpe also put up these numbers with Don Majkowski as his quarterback for most of his career. Even when Brett Favre came to Green Bay, it was a young, inexperienced Brett Favre.

With that level of QB play, Sharpe put up historic numbers.

Heaven knows what Sharpe would have done if he had Rice's quarterback talent or longevity. At least the Hall is one step closer to correcting one of their biggest mistakes and putting Sharpe where he belongs.

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