Luis Sharpe, 3-Time Pro Bowler and Cardinals Legend, Dies at 65

Luis Sharpe, 3-time Pro Bowler and a critical member of the Cardinals’ offensive line of the past, has passed away today. Sharpe was 65 when he passed away, but the reason for his death is not known yet. The news has been confirmed by his wife, Tameka Williams-Sharpe, and his death is being mourned by thousands of NFL fans worldwide.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is among those who have paid tribute to the Cardinals legend on social media, as he released a statement on social media which read as follows:

"Throughout his lengthy and accomplished career with the Cardinals, Luis Sharpe exhibited an uncommon type of strength and toughness that made him so successful as a player. Admirably, he would later demonstrate those same traits in dealing with the personal challenges he faced when his career was over. We send our deepest condolences to all of those who loved Luis, in particular his family and former teammates"

Luis Sharpe - a brief history

Luis Sharpe played college football at UCLA, and apart from being technically proficient, he was as imposing as they come. The Cardinals saw this prospect and picked him up as the 16th overall pick of the 1st round of the 1982 draft of NFL.

What followed was a record-breaking spree as Luis Sharpe's consistency made him an absolute favorite with the fans. Throughout his 13-year career, he practiced his trade with the Cardinals franchise, and he was one of the top players in the league during this period, with his selection in the 1987, 1988, and 1989 Pro Bowl proving the point that he was among the elites.

Later in his life, Luis Sharpe had some difficulties with addiction, and even at one point was sent to jail. But he was able to overcome his addiction very soon as he was released from prison, and he collaborated with his daughter to educate others about the challenges and possibilities of overcoming addiction.

According to an interview that Sharpe gave to The Athletic in 2020, he explained that he was delighted to have discovered his calling and elaborated on the things that he intended to accomplish over the next few years:

"I feel a sense of purpose now. I feel more significant than I ever did when I was playing professional football. My life is better today. I tell people all the time, 'What I thought was my greatest curse has turned into my greatest blessing.' I recognize today I have the life I have because I've overcome so many obstacles and so many challenges. God wanted me to go out and do exactly what I'm doing, to share my life with others, to tell them my fall from grace and say, 'If I can stand before you today as a productive member of society, so can you."

Sharpe started his career with excellence and carried it till the later years of his career, and was able to keep the level of excellence that very few players attain. His death will spell the end of an era in the Cardinals franchise, but his legacy lives on in the memories of those who saw him play.

Trending

Read More: Who is Iga Świątek? All about Poland’s Wimbledon singles champion

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback