3. Shannon Sharpe
Career stats with Broncos: 12 seasons; 675 receptions; 8,439 receiving yards; 55 touchdowns
Best statistical year: 1996; 80 receptions; 1,062 receiving yards; 10 touchdowns
Honors with Broncos: Seven-time Pro Bowler; Four-time First-Team All-Pro; 1990s All-Decade Team; Hall of Famer
Super Bowls with Broncos: XXXII & XXXIII
When Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season, he was the most decorated tight end in the history of the NFL holding nearly every receiving record by a tight end. Twelve of his 14 seasons were played in orange and blue.
What gets lost in today’s NFL is a tight end is supposed to be a blocker as well as a receiver. When head coach Mike Shanahan rejoined the Broncos in 1995 and installed the zone running game, Sharpe became a tremendous blocker.
Even though Sharpe was a tight end, he ranks second all-time among Broncos for receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns — only trailing Rod Smith in every category.
Sharpe didn’t dominate the league because of his raw size, like some tight ends currently in the league. At 6-foot-2, 228 pounds Sharpe was one of the hardest working players in Broncos history. According to The Wall Street Journal, after his third year in the league the trainers let him use his own workout and diet plan, which rarely happens.
Although Sharpe did leave the Broncos after the 1999 season for the Baltimore Ravens for two seasons, he came back and played his final two seasons in Denver before retiring.
On Broncos teams chock-full of superstars, Sharpe stuck out with his vibrant attitude and loud mouth that Broncos fans came to love, specifically when he pretended to call the president midgame to send the National Guard because the Broncos were “killing the Patriots.”
