Shannon Sharpe Salary: How Much Has the Cowboys Legend Earned in NFL Career?

Prior to breaking the internet with Club Shay Shay or debating Cowboys plays with Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe was actually making money in the NFL—14 seasons, to be exact. And while he’s better known today for viral interviews and memorable takes, his tight end legacy came with a solid financial haul.

Sharpe’s earnings during his playing career? $22.3 million, roughly. Not particularly striking by today’s standards, but for a 7th-round selection from Savannah State in the 1990s, that was top-tier cheddar. His rookie deal hovered between $100K and $200K, but by his prime with Denver, he was pulling in $1.2 to $2.5 million per year.

He was one of the highest-paid tight ends in football after signing the Ravens contract in 1999, which paid him $4.5 million a year. He continued to bank $2 to $3 million a year when he returned to Denver for his final seasons. Today, players like Travis Kelce and George Kittle earn $15 million annually. But they’re standing on Shannon’s shoulder pads.

And the real kicker? Sharpe’s post-NFL media empire might quadruple his playing-day salary. Turns out, the Hall of Famer’s biggest bag didn’t come from football—it came after the cleats came off.

This is a developing story. So stay tuned!