In his heyday as an NFL player, Shannon Sharpe was one of pro football’s premier tight ends and, in 2011, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. In retirement, it looks like the NFL legend is training as if he could step onto the field immediately and humiliate defenders again.
On August 5, 2022, the 54-year-old shared a clip on his Instagram where he completed a 365-pound (165.5-kilogram) bench press for six reps. The retired football legend wore gloves and a lifting belt during this display of upper body strength.
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While it’s been a while since he last strapped on shoulder pads and a helmet, Sharpe makes sure to stay physically active. From time to time, he shares training clips and physique updates on his social media. For example, the football Hall of Famer’s arms and chest look shredded in a post shared on June 26 this year — his birthday.
Sharpe’s long-term goals in the gym have a noteworthy tinge of ambition. Per the caption of his most recent training post, the football icon says his “bench press numbers are going up rapidly.” By the end of the 2022 calendar year, Sharpe thinks he “can get to 450 [pounds]” and apparently plans to aim for that impressive benchmark.
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Sharpe’s Background
Between 12 seasons with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens (1990-2003), Sharpe amassed one of the most prolific careers in the NFL. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sharpe held the tight end record for touchdowns (62), receiving yards (10,060), and receptions (815) at the time of his retirement in 2003. He was also a key cog on two Super Bowl-winning teams in Denver (1997-1998) and another championship squad with Baltimore (2000).
These days, when he’s not challenging himself in the gym, Sharpe is a sports pundit for Fox Sports 1’s daily debate show, Skip and Shannon: Undisputed. With his platform as a commentator and retired Hall of Famer, he doesn’t appear shy in sharing his opinions as a prominent voice in the football sphere overall.
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As a media professional, Sharpe is undoubtedly preparing to talk about the upcoming 2022 NFL season, which will begin on Thursday, September 8. In the meantime, whenever he’s not in front of a camera, it’s fair to assume that Sharpe will continue pushing himself in his strength training. At the same time, he might very well defy expectations of what a “retired” athlete is supposed to be capable of.
Featured image: @shannonsharpe84 on Instagram
