Tajaé Lamar Sharpe (born December 23, 1994) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

UMass Minutemen The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst; strictly speaking, the ''Minutemen'' nickname applies to men's teams and athletes only — women's teams and athletes are known as ...

, earning second-team

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

honors in 2015. Sharpe was selected by the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...

in the fifth round of the

2016 NFL draft The 2016 NFL draft was the 81st annual draft of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. As in 2015, the draft took place at the Auditorium Theatre and Grant Park in Chicago. The draft beg ...

. He has also played for the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...

and

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...

Early life

Sharpe attended

Piscataway Township High School Piscataway High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Piscataway in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of ...

Piscataway, New Jersey Piscataway ( ) is a Township (New Jersey), township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of the New York metropolitan area, in the Raritan River, Raritan Valley. As of the 2020 United ...

and played

and basketball. He was a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and committed to the

University of Massachusetts The University of Massachusetts is the Public university, public university system of the Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The university system includes six campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Lowell ...

(UMass) to play

College career

In 2012, Sharpe had 20 receptions for 206 yards in 11 games and made eight starts as a freshman at UMass. Sharpe led the team with 61 receptions for 680 yards and four

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

s in 2013 and 85 receptions for 1,281 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014. As a senior in 2015, Sharpe broke UMass records for career receptions and receiving yards, finishing the season with 111 receptions for 1,319 yards and five touchdowns. Sharpe majored in communications.

College statistics

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

2016 season

Sharpe was selected in the fifth round with the 140th overall pick by the

in the

. On May 9, 2016, the Titans signed Sharpe to a four-year, $2.61 million contract with a signing bonus of $274,884. Throughout

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

, Sharpe competed with

Andre Johnson Andre Lamont Johnson (born July 11, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Houston Texans. He played college football for the Mi ...

Dorial Green-Beckham Dorial Isaiah Green-Beckham (born April 12, 1993) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2015 NFL draf ...

, and

Kendall Wright Kendall Thomas Wright (born November 12, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, earning All-American honors in 20 ...

for a starting wide receiver position. He was named one of the starting wide receivers, opposite Rishard Matthews, going into the regular season. Sharpe made his NFL debut and first NFL start in the season-opener against the

. He finished the 25–16 loss with seven receptions for 76 yards. During a Week 10 47–25 victory over the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

, Sharpe caught three passes for 68 yards and his first NFL touchdown on a 33-yard reception from

Marcus Mariota Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota (born October 30, 1993) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks footb ...

in the third quarter. In the next game against the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

, Sharpe had four receptions for 68 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass as the Titans lost on the road by a score of 24–17. The Titans tripled their win total from the previous year, finishing with a 9–7 record, but did not qualify for the playoffs. Sharpe finished his rookie season with 41 receptions for 522 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and 10 starts.

2017 season

On September 2, 2017, Sharpe was placed on

injured reserve The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...

with a foot injury, ending his season before it even started. Without Sharpe, the Titans finished with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs. However, their season ended after they lost to the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

in the Divisional Round.

2018 season

Sharpe returned from his injury in time for the Titans' season-opening 27–20 road loss to the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

, recording a 17-yard reception. Three weeks later against the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

, Sharpe had three receptions for 27 yards and his first touchdown of the season as the Titans won by a score of 26–23 in overtime. During a narrow Week 7 20–19 loss to the

Los Angeles Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...

in London, Sharpe matched his single-game career-high in receptions with seven and also gained a new career-high in receiving yards with 101. During a Week 11 38–10 road loss to the Colts, Sharpe caught five passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. Sharpe finished the 2018 season with 26 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and 13 starts. The Titans finished with a third straight 9–7 season and did not qualify for the playoffs.

2019 season

During a Week 7 23–20 victory over the Chargers, Sharpe had two receptions for 19 yards and his first touchdown of the season on a five-yard pass from

Ryan Tannehill Ryan Timothy Tannehill III (born July 27, 1988) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, playing wide receiver until his junior year, and was selected eighth overall by the Miami Dol ...

. In the next game against the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

, Sharpe recorded three receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown as the Titans won by a score of 27–23. He did not play in Week 13 against the Colts due to a hamstring injury. During a Week 16 38–28 loss against the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...

, Sharpe had five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Sharpe finished the 2019 season with 25 receptions for 329 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 15 games and six starts. The Titans finished with a fourth straight 9–7 season, qualifying for the playoffs and advancing to the

AFC Championship Game The AFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the American Football Conference (AFC) and one of the two semifinal NFL playoffs, playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football lea ...

where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...

. Sharpe played in all three of the Titans' playoff games, starting in the

Wild Card Round A wild card (also wildcard or wild-card and also known as an at-large berth or at-large bid) is an invitation to a tournament or a playoff berth awarded to a team or individual that does not qualify via an automatic bid. In some events, wildcards ...

against the Patriots and recording a six-yard reception during the

Minnesota Vikings

On March 25, 2020, Sharpe signed a one-year contract with the

. He was waived on December 14, 2020.

Kansas City Chiefs

On December 22, 2020, the Chiefs signed Sharpe to their

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

. His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on February 16, 2021. Sharpe re-signed with the Chiefs on April 9, 2021. However, he was waived on May 17, 2021.

Atlanta Falcons

On May 24, 2021, Sharpe signed with the

. He played in 15 games with seven starts, recording 25 receptions for 230 yards.

Chicago Bears

On May 12, 2022, Sharpe signed with the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

. After head coach

Matt Eberflus Matt Eberflus ( ; born May 17, 1970) is an American professional football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football L ...

announced that Sharpe would miss the whole 2022 season with a rib injury, he was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2022. Sharpe was released on September 9, 2022.

San Francisco 49ers

The

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

hosted Sharpe for a workout on October 31, 2022. He was signed to their practice squad on November 7, 2022. Sharpe was released on November 23, 2022.

NFL career statistics

Personal life

Sharpe's grandmother, Cozy Little, is a breast cancer survivor who was initially diagnosed in 2001. Sharpe also has a rap career, under the name ''Show. ''As of June 6, 2021, Sharpe has released four full-length studio albums; ''First Quarter'', released in 2019, ''Credentials'' and ''Delay of Game'', both released in 2020, and ''Overtime'', released in 2021.

Legal issues

On May 10, 2017, Sharpe and teammate

Sebastian Tretola Sebastian Giovanni Andre Tretola (born May 1, 1992) is an American former professional American football, football Guard (gridiron football), guard. He played college football at Arkansas Razorbacks football, Arkansas, Iowa Western Community Col ...

were named as defendants in a federal civil lawsuit that alleges the teammates were at a Nashville bar watching the

2017 NFL draft The 2017 NFL draft was the 82nd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. It was held in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27–29, returning to Philadelphia f ...

. Dante R. Satterfield, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, claims he told Sharpe he'd probably lose playing time as a result of the Titans selecting wide receiver Corey Davis in the first round. The report alleges Sharpe responded by challenging him to a fight in a back alley and was accompanied by Tretola as a lookout. Satterfield claims he was knocked unconscious for 12 hours, suffered a concussion, and facial fractures from the incident and is suing for $500,000 in damages.

References

External links

UMass Minutemen bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharpe, Tajae 1994 births Living people Sportspeople from Piscataway, New Jersey Piscataway High School alumni Players of American football from Middlesex County, New Jersey American football wide receivers UMass Minutemen football players Tennessee Titans players Minnesota Vikings players Kansas City Chiefs players Atlanta Falcons players Chicago Bears players San Francisco 49ers players