No. 55 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Date of birth: | November 23, 1974 | ||||||||
Place of birth: | Richmond, Virginia | ||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Henrico (VA) Hermitage | ||||||||
College: | Virginia | ||||||||
NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
|
Tackles: | 882 |
---|---|
Sacks: | 25.5 |
Interceptions: | 2 |
Player stats at NFL.com |
Harry James Sharper, Jr. (born November 23, 1974) is a former American football player who played in the NFL from 1997 through 2005. He played college football at the University of Virginia. He is the older brother of safety Darren Sharper.
Sharper attended Hermitage High School in Henrico County, Virginia. He played for the school's American football team as a linebacker. His younger brother, Darren, played for the football team as a quarterback. After high school, Sharper enrolled at the University of Virginia, and played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Baltimore Ravens selected Sharper with the 34th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He made an impact right away, recording 68 tackles, three sacks and one interception in his rookie year. He became an important part in the record-setting 2000 Ravens defense, making a crucial interception which sent Baltimore to the Super Bowl, and he started in Super Bowl XXXV. His career totals with the Ravens included 328 tackles, 14 sacks, 2 interceptions and one touchdown. After the 2001 season he was chosen in the expansion draft by the Houston Texans. From 2003-2004, while a member of the Texans, he led the NFL in tackles in that period with 301. After the 2004 season he signed with the Seattle Seahawks for one season, helping the team reach their first Super Bowl. Sharper then retired after one season with Seattle due to a knee injury. During his 9-year career Sharper only missed 8 games, and did not miss a game until his final season, playing in 136 straight games.