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The former NFL offensive tackle Luis Sharpe, a three-time pro bowler, died Friday, confirmed his former team. He was 65.
Sharpe played in the league for 13 seasons, all with the Arizona Cardinals franchise. He was a first choice of St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.
While Sharpe only played for the Cardinals, he played in three different cities. He spent the first six seasons of his career in St. Louis and the next six seasons in Phoenix as the team moved to Arizona.
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File – Luis Sharpe, #67 by Phoenix Cardinals, looks at during an NFL football match around 1992 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Sharpe played for the Cardinals from 1982 to 1985 and 1986 to 1994. (Photo after Focus on Sport/Getty Images) (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
The last season of Sharpe’s career was the first one that the Cardinals franchise redirected to become Arizona Cardinals. Sharpe started all 189 games he played in his career.
“Throughout his long and talented career with the Cardinals, Luis Sharpe exhibited an unusual type of strength and toughness that made him as successful as a player,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement.
“Bemirably he would later demonstrate the same features of handling the personal challenges he faced when his career was over. We send our deepest compassion to all those who loved Luis, especially his family and former teammates.”
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St. Louis Cardinals Offensive Tackle Luis Sharpe (67) in action against Atlanta Falcon’s defensive end Greg Brown (98) at Fulton County Stadium in the 1987 season on November 29, 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. (RVR Photos-usa Today Sports)
After his NFL career, Sharpe fought a drug addiction and spent time in prison, but he turned his life around and became sober. In 2015, Sharpe moved back to his home state of Michigan to get out of Arizona.
“I feel a sense of purpose now,” Sharpe told The Athletic in 2020. “I feel more significant than I ever did when I played 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. ”” ”
Luis Sharpe, #67 of Phoenix Cardinals, warms up during pregame warming before the start of an NFL football match against Dallas Cowboys on October 23, 1994 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
In the last years of his life, Sharpe spent time advising patients in Detroit at a sober clinic. The three-time pro bowler also worked with the NFL to help former players with their health in their aftermath days.
“I recognize today that I have the life I have because I have overcome so many obstacles and so many challenges,” Sharpe said. “God wanted me to go out and do exactly what I’m doing, to share my life with others, tell them my fall from grace and say, ‘If I can stand in front of you today as a productive member of society, you can too.'”
