NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe recounts two harrowing incidents that led him to vow never to sleep at a woman's house again, including an encounter with an angry boyfriend armed with an AK-47.
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has revealed the compelling reasons why he made a conscious decision early in his professional football career to refrain from sleeping at women's houses. In a recent podcast interview with former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, Sharpe candidly shared two separate occasions where he found himself entangled in unexpected and unsettling situations involving women.
The first incident occurred shortly after Sharpe was drafted into the NFL by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round. Returning to Georgia after the draft, Sharpe stayed out late and didn't want to disturb his grandmother at home. He contacted a woman, seeking permission to stay over. However, the night took an unexpected turn.
Shannon Sharpe's Sobering Lessons: Why He Swore Off Sleeping at Women's Houses After Unwanted Drama
"Cam, something told me, 'Boy, keep your clothes on.' So, I got on shorts and I got on a T-shirt," Sharpe recalled. "Man, have you ever had sleep paralysis? You can hear things, but you can't move. ... I can hear, and it's getting louder, it's getting louder, and they're arguing. So, by this time – boom! The door flies off the hinges."
To Sharpe's surprise, the man who burst into the room was an avid fan and began gushing about Sharpe's football skills. While he had no issue with Sharpe, he expressed his anger towards the woman they were both involved with.
Shannon Sharpe's Sobering Lessons: Why He Swore Off Sleeping at Women's Houses After Unwanted Drama
"I'm tired of this 'B' lying. I'm saying to myself, 'Me, too.' Cam, man, I put my shoes on and booked it out of there," Sharpe confessed.
However, Sharpe had not yet learned his lesson. In 1993, while the Broncos had a bye week, Sharpe returned to Savannah State for homecoming. He arranged to meet up with a woman but found himself facing a far more dangerous situation.
Shannon Sharpe's Sobering Lessons: Why He Swore Off Sleeping at Women's Houses After Unwanted Drama
"I set my stuff down. And I'm looking at the door handle, it's turning. ... Dude comes in. He got that [AK-47]. Oh lord, have mercy," Sharpe exclaimed. "I said, 'Lord.' And he looks at me, and he says, 'My man.' I said, 'Yeah.' He's about to ask me if I'm Sharpe. I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'I thought so.' I said, 'My man, is this your people?' He said, 'Yeah. Two years.'"
Realizing the woman he was with had been involved with the man for two years, Sharpe feared for his life. He explained that he had left the situation had he not been interrupted.
"I said, 'My man, I ain't know.' I said, 'You know who I am now.' I said, 'Man, my bad. You saved me.' Because if I had not been [interrupted], I ain't telling this story right now," Sharpe asserted.
The man returned Sharpe's jewelry, which he had accidentally left behind, before Sharpe hurriedly left the house.
"I have not closed my eyes at another woman's house in 31 years," Sharpe declared.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sharpe played for the Denver Broncos over two stints, totaling 12 years, and had two additional years with the Baltimore Ravens. He amassed an impressive eight Pro Bowl selections and three Super Bowl championships, cementing his legacy as a football legend.
