15 Hall Of Fame Leadership Quotes From Shannon Sharpe

Shannon Sharpe is the finest tight end to ever play professional football.  Tony Gonzalez has passed him in many key statistical categories but Sharpe has three championship rings.  He’s the best.

This past weekend Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.  The following are the leadership quotes from his speech as well as some comments from his brother Sterling who introduced him.

Sterling Sharpe

• “Not getting drafted before the 7^th round helped more than anything or anyone, myself included, because it humbled him, broke him, and made him a fierce competitor all at the same time.”
• “When you do farm work, when you grow up on a farm, you are asked to do certain things, it’s to the best of your ability.”
• “He will always be my little brother.  He will always be the only guy I said “I love you” too.” 
• “I am honored to present my brother, Shannon Sharpe, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  It feels really good to say that.”

Shannon Sharpe

• “All these years nothing makes me prouder than when people call me a ‘Self-made man.’”
• “Determination.  Dedication.  Discipline.  Three traits that translate to any generation and any job situation.”
• “Don’t hope someone gives you an opportunity.  Create one yourself.”
• “I’m the only player of 267 men that’s walk through this building to my left 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.’”
• “I never once lived in your (Sterling) shadow.  I embraced it.”
• “My grandmother never told me as I was getting to leave for Savannah State, ‘Shannon, don’t do drugs.  Shannon, don’t drink.  Shannon, go to class.  Shannon, do your homework.  Shannon, be respectful.  Shannon, iron your clothes.’  She laid that foundation for 18 years.  A 10-minute speech wasn’t going to work now.”
• “Nobody knew how much this 5 alarm fire raged inside of me.”
• “I didn’t want my kids to live one hour, not one hour, in the life that I had.  Let alone a day.”
• “I ruined a lot of relationships.  But I’m not here to apologize for that.”
• “I never want to eat cold oatmeal again…I remember eating raccoon.  I remember eating possum and turtle.”
• “I want a decent house…I want to go bed one night and I want God to let it rain as hard as He possibly can.  And I want Him to let it rain all night long.  I want to wake up and not be wet.” – Sharpe’s grandmother

For additional Hall of Fame quotes, please read 18 Hall Of Fame Leadership Quotes From Deion Sanders.

To get future leadership posts and resources sent directly to you, please take advantage of the many subscription offers located on this site.