Green Bay Packers: 5 Greatest receivers in franchise history
By Joe Kipp
2. Sterling Sharpe
He’s been called the greatest receiver in Packers history by some, but for our purposes he stands at No. 2. Sterling Sharpe‘s playing career may have been cut short, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a monster during his peak. Forced to retire in 1994 after a severe neck injury, Sharpe still managed to record 595 catches for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns in just seven seasons (112 games).
Sharpe’s best season came in 1992, when he caught 108 passes for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. He posted career-highs in receptions (112) in 1993 and touchdowns (18) in 1994. Overall, he was named a Pro Bowler fives times and a first-team All-Pro three times.
It’s almost undeniable Sharpe was headed for a Hall of Fame-type career, which his brother (Shannon Sharpe) admitted during his own Hall of Fame induction speech. As Shannon stated in his speech (h/t to the Denver Post)
"“I’m the only player that can honestly say this. I’m the only pro football player that’s in the Hall of Fame, and I’m the second best player in my own family. There’s no question in my mind, we would’ve been the first brothers to be elected into the Hall of Fame.”"
Sterling Sharpe never got to a Super Bowl, but he accomplished a lot in his seven seasons with the Packers. There’s no question he would’ve done much more had he not been forced to retire at just 29 years old.