He will always be remembered for his time with the New York Giants. Though he never got to win a Super Bowl with Big Blue, wide receiver Sterling Shepard had some memorable moments during his tenure. Mulling retirement after Week 18 versus the Philadelphia Eagles, he decided that he isn’t done yet.
The former Oklahoma wideout signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, as he looks to rejuvenate his career with college teammate and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
However, let’s look back at his eight-year career with the Giants.
A Promising Prospect
It’s a shame it feels like for a lot of players if you stick around too long & your play drops off fans eventually turn on you. It didn’t end how anyone hoped but I don’t have a single bad thing to say about Sterling Shepard. The man loved being a Giant more than anyone.#NYGiants pic.twitter.com/DIotcqmvxf
— Monte (@MONTECRI5TO) January 10, 2024
Shepard was drafted by the Giants in 2016 with their 40th overall pick. After productive seasons at the University of Oklahoma (including an 86/1,288/11 stat line his senior year), New York felt the need to add a solid WR2 to take the pressure off of Odell Beckham Jr.
He immediately made a difference right away, racking up 65 catches for 683 yards and eight touchdowns his rookie year. Then, despite missing five games due to injury, he still racked up 59 catches for 731 yards. It’s unsurprising, as New York lost Odell Beckham Jr. due to an injury of his own.
That offseason, the Giants’ front office traded away Beckham Jr, clearing the way for Shepard to be the WR1 in 2018. He responded with a career-high in receiving yards, racking up 872 of them and catching four touchdowns in the process.
After solid seasons in 2019 and 2020, injuries took a major toll starting in 2021. Shepard played just seven games, dealing with a variety of injuries to his hamstring, quad, and a torn Achilles in week 15.
Then, he was fully healthy and ready to go in 2022. But, an ACL tear in week three against the Cowboys ruled him out the rest of the year. After what looked to be a promising career based on his first seasons in the NFL, injuries derailed his career and he would never look like the same player again.
Fully Healthy In 2023… But, It Didn’t Matter
Sterling Shepard was fully healthy for the 2023 season. But, he rarely touched the field as the Giants wanted to give playing time to the younger guys such as Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt. Merely a veteran presence, he only recorded ten catches for 57 yards and just one touchdown.
In his last game as a Giants against the Eagles, New York “forcefully” tried to make his last game memorable by sending him off with a touchdown. But, the wideout would finish with just three catches for 18 yards in the team’s 27-10 win.
Many expected Shepard to retire. After all, he’s past the age of 30. He has dealt with multiple serious injuries. And, his production has been declining for years.
However, the Buccaneers believed in him enough to give him a second chance in the NFL. When healthy, he can be a threat when he is on the field. He will still serve as a solid presence in the locker room, even if he may not be a WR3/WR4 because of the competition he will be dealing with. Regardless, reuniting with college teammate Baker Mayfield will be beneficial and fun to see.
In the end, Sterling Shepard deserves nothing but props for his time with the Giants. He was an incredible leader, and a great teammate, and did not do anything wrong. We wish him nothing but the best in Tampa Bay and beyond.
Once a Giant, Always a Giant. Thank you, Mr. Shepard.
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Featured Image: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
