Sterling Shepard Bio
Sterling Clay Shepard is an American professional football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners before entering the professional ranks. Shepard was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, beginning a career that has spanned multiple franchises and several standout seasons.
Early Life and Background
Sterling Clay Shepard was born on February 10, 1993, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He grew up in a family with deep roots in football, which helped shape his early interest in the sport. His father, Derrick Shepard, played wide receiver at the University of Oklahoma and went on to play in the NFL from 1987 to 1991. Sterling’s uncles, Darrell and Woodie, also played at Oklahoma, giving him a strong football lineage. Derrick died when Sterling was six years old.
Shepard attended Heritage Hall School in Oklahoma City, where he became one of the most productive high school receivers in the state. In his high school football career, he rushed for 1,115 yards and caught 133 passes for 2,335 yards and 38 touchdowns. As a senior, he carried the ball 28 times for 303 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 73 passes for 1,243 yards and 17 touchdowns. Following his senior season, he was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game. In addition to football, Shepard competed in basketball and track, placing second in the long jump at the State Meet as a senior in 2011 with a leap of 6.69 meters.
Path to American Football
Shepard was a consensus four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, 247sports.com and Scout.com. He committed to the University of Oklahoma to play college football under head coach Bob Stoops. As a true freshman in 2012, Shepard played in all 13 games with four starts and recorded 45 receptions for 621 yards and three touchdowns. His debut came on September 8 against Florida A&M, and he added his first collegiate receiving touchdown the following week against Kansas State.
As a sophomore in 2013, he started 12 of 13 games and tallied 51 receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns, including a standout eight-catch, 123-yard, two-touchdown performance against Tulsa. In his junior season of 2014, he opened with career-high receiving yardage totals of 177 and 215 against Tulsa and TCU, respectively, but a groin injury limited his production over the final four games. He closed his college career as a senior in 2015 with 86 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns, highlighted by a game-winning 18-yard reception from Baker Mayfield in double overtime against Tennessee. For his collegiate career, he finished with 233 receptions for 3,482 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Sterling Shepard Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
Shepard was selected by the New York Giants in the second round with the 40th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, making him the fifth wide receiver taken that year. On May 6, 2016, the Giants signed him to a four-year, $5.94 million contract that included $3.24 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.52 million. Named a starter opposite Odell Beckham Jr., he opened his career with three receptions for 43 yards and his first career touchdown on a nine-yard pass from Eli Manning in a 20-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He went on to post 65 receptions for 683 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns as a rookie, and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team.
In 2017, Shepard missed multiple games due to migraines but still produced strong moments, including a 77-yard touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles and a career-high 11 receptions for 142 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. He finished the year with 59 receptions for 731 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
New York Giants Breakthrough (2018-2023)
Shepard delivered one of his finest seasons in 2018, recording 66 receptions for 872 yards and four touchdowns. He exploded for 167 receiving yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7 and caught the game-winning touchdown in a 27-23 victory over the 49ers in Week 10. On April 10, 2019, the Giants signed him to a four-year, $41 million contract extension with $21.3 million guaranteed, cementing his role as a core offensive weapon.
His 2019 campaign produced 57 receptions for 576 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, while the 2020 season saw him finish with 66 receptions for 656 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games. Injuries began to take a toll in 2021, when he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, limiting him to 36 receptions for 366 yards and one touchdown in seven games. In 2022, he tore his left ACL in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, ending his season after three games. He returned in 2023 on a one-year contract and played in 15 games with two starts, finishing with 10 receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024-Present)
On June 10, 2024, Shepard signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on October 1. He finished the 2024 season with 32 receptions for 334 yards and one touchdown. On March 24, 2025, Shepard signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract extension with the Buccaneers, and went on to record 39 receptions for 371 yards and one touchdown in 13 games during the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shepard is known for his polished route-running, reliable hands, and ability to gain separation against man coverage. His quickness and instincts in the slot have made him a trusted target on third downs and in two-minute drills throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Shepard’s career was his game-winning overtime touchdown reception from Baker Mayfield against Tennessee in 2015 and his career-high 11-reception, 142-yard performance against the 49ers in 2017. He is also one of only a handful of Oklahoma Sooners wide receivers to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards in college.
Sterling Shepard Career Wins
Across his professional career, Sterling Shepard has built a reputation as a dependable possession receiver with the ability to deliver in key moments. He has recorded 443 career receptions for 4,800 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns through the 2025 season, along with 274 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
NFL Highlights
Shepard’s first NFL win came in his debut against the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, when he caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning in a 20-19 victory. His most recent full season saw him contribute 39 receptions for 371 yards and a touchdown for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. He earned the Disney Spirit Award in 2014 and was named a First-team All-American in 2015, while also being selected as a First-team All-Big 12 honoree in both 2014 and 2015.
Other Wins and Performances
At Heritage Hall School, Shepard was a dominant force, recording 38 total touchdowns and earning an Under Armour All-American selection. His senior season totals of 1,243 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns cemented his status as one of the top high school receivers in Oklahoma.
Sterling Shepard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sterling Shepard comes from a family with deep football roots. His father, Derrick Shepard, played wide receiver at the University of Oklahoma and spent time in the NFL from 1987 to 1991. His uncles, Darrell and Woodie, also played at Oklahoma, giving Sterling a strong football heritage that influenced his path to the sport.
Personal Life
Shepard married model Chanel Iman on March 3, 2018, and the couple welcomed their first daughter, Cali Clay Shepard, on August 10, 2018. Their second daughter, Cassie Snow Shepard, was born on December 17, 2019. In January 2022, Shepard and Iman announced that they would be getting divorced.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Sterling Shepard continued his role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after signing a one-year, $2.25 million contract extension in March. He appeared in 13 games and finished the season with 39 receptions for 371 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, providing veteran depth and reliable hands in the Buccaneers’ passing attack.
Shepard’s experience and route-running precision allowed him to remain a steady contributor in the slot, while his ability to step up on key downs helped sustain offensive momentum. With another year of production on his resume, he remains a respected presence in the Buccaneers’ locker room heading into the offseason.
