June 26, 1968: Sharpe is born in Chicago.
1990: After starring at Savannah (Ga.) State, Sharpe is picked in the seventh round (192nd overall) of the NFL draft by Denver.
1992: Sharpe is selected for the first of his eight Pro Bowls.
1993: Sharpe ties an NFL record with 13 receptions in a playoff game (against the Raiders). The Associated Press names Sharpe a first-team all-pro for the first of four times.
1994: Sharpe surpasses 1,000 yards receiving. He will have two more seasons of 1,000-plus yards (1996 and 1997).
1996: Sharpe leads NFL tight ends in receptions (80), yards (1,062) and touchdowns (10).
1997: Finishes season with career-best 1,107 yards receiving and career-best average of 15.4 yards.
1997, 1998: Sharpe plays a star role on the Broncos’ back-to-back NFL championship teams.
2000: Sharpe signs with Baltimore as an unrestricted free agent, wins another Super Bowl ring.
2001: Sharpe breaks Ozzie Newsome’s career record for most receptions by an NFL tight end.
2002: Sharpe returns to the Broncos for his final two NFL seasons. His 214 yards receiving in a game against Kansas City sets an NFL record for a tight end. At the time of his retirement, Sharpe’s 815 receptions, 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns are NFL career records for a tight end.
2004: Sharpe joins the on-air crew of “The NFL Today” show on CBS.
2005: Sharpe participates in the World Series of Poker.
Sept. 20, 2009: Sharpe becomes the 22nd Bronco inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame.
Feb. 5, 2011: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Aug. 6: Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
The Denver Post; Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
The man, the mouth — A sampling of Sharpe wit:
“I like to talk. I admit it. If I can’t talk, I’m crippled, blind, deaf and dumb.” — Quoted in a Sports Illustrated cover story before Super Bowl XXXIII
“I think Mike (Shanahan) and the organization have put a lot of eggs in his basket. We just hope he doesn’t trip on his way to the market.” — On quarterback Jake Plummer, after he signed with the Broncos before the 2003 season
“People say, ‘Since you got rich and famous, you’ve become insufferable.’ I say, ‘That’s not true. I’ve always been insufferable.’ ” — Quoted in a Sports Illustrated cover story before Super Bowl XXXIII
“We were so poor, a robber once broke into our house and we ended up robbing the robber.” — On growing up poor in Glennville, Ga.
Compiled by Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
