Warren Sapp made the Pro Bowl seven times in a 13-year Hall of Fame career.
The defensive tackle was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 12th overall pick in 1995.
GettySapp helped inspire the Bucs to a Super Bowl triumph in 2003[/caption]
He won the Super Bowl in a 48-21 triumph over the Oakland Raiders in 2003.
A year later, he joined the Raiders on seven-year contract worth $36.6 million.
Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca says his fellow Canton inductee was the toughest opponent he ever faced.
“Warren was great,” Faneca said “He changed and really played that defensive-tackle position different than anybody else.
“People like to ask you who’s the toughest guy you ever went against? Or the hardest guy? My first response – and I always give him credit because we had so many big battles – is Warren.
“He played the defensive-tackle position. He got wide. He was fast. He was quick. You couldn’t just show up on Sunday and play against Warren.”
Sapp is estimated to have earned $58million by the time he hung up his cleats in 2007.
But in 2012, he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in South Florida with $6.7million in debts, per ESPN.
The former Buccaneers star listed $6.45million in assets, including 240 pairs of Air Jordans, a $2,250 watch, a painting of a nude woman, and a lion skin rug.
But his 2002 Super Bowl ring and 1991 National Championship ring from the University of Miami were both reported to have been lost.
GettySapp entered the Hall of Fame in 2013[/caption]
GettyDeion Sanders gave Sapp a way into coaching[/caption]
Sapp worked on several media gigs post retirement, was a runner-up on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2008, and fought off a shark while lobstering in the Florida Keys in 2016.
Now he has found a new role as an assistant coach with Deion Sanders at the Colorado Buffaloes.
He will earn $150,000 annually in the post, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Sapp was inspired by a visit to Coach Prime’s program in 2023 and is taking his first full-time post.
“For someone that never wanted to do this, I am really addicted to it right now,” he said in August.
“The babies are really giving me a purpose in life, and I’m enjoying it.”
Sapp was impressed with the Buffaloes’ dedication, which has contributed to a 5-2 start, from the off.
“I’ve worked with pros that are getting my phone number and tell me they coming to Miami, and my house is a mile and a half from where they work out and they’ll never call,” he added.
“These kids call me at 5:30 in the morning, ‘Coach, you wanna come watch tape with me?’
“It’s crazy. I’m like, ‘Yeah, give me a purpose to get off the couch!’
“So trust me, I was on my couch watching MSNBC, so I’m loving this. I am loving this.”
Sapp has been credited with firming up Colorado’s offensive line since linking up with his old friend.
The 51-year-old clearly has plenty of advice to offer on wrestling linemen – and sharks – with an eager audience to share it with.
