On July 11th of this year the Cardinals family lost one of their own in Offensive Tackle Luis Sharpe. Although I saw items locally and an official statement from the team I haven’t seen any commemorative patches or decals on their uniform. Keep in mind this was one of the stalwarts who came to the desert when the team relocated from St Louis in 1988.

He is listed 6th in Cardinals history in games played with 189 while making 3 Pro Bowls. Twice being voted All Pro by Sportswriters.  Keep in mind this is the oldest franchise in the NFL and preceded the league itself starting in Chicago in 1898. Yes, the Cardinals franchise precedes the NFL as a league by almost a quarter of a century with the league establishing itself in 1920 on a Hupmobile showroom floor in Canton, Ohio.

Think back to the 1998 Cardinals when they upset Dallas in the NFC Wildcard and you’ll see the 100th season commemorative patch. This was on their uniform the entire season here on the late Pat Tillman for reference.

Even the likeness used to immortalize Tillman in bronze has that season’s jersey with patch on outside the stadium.

I haven’t seen any information if the Cardinals will put a patch on the jersey or a decal of Sharpe’s “67” but they need to. As one of the league’s best Left Tackles in the NFC he faced the like of Dexter Manley, Lawrence Taylor, Leonard Marshall, Pat Swilling & Richard Dent in the heydey of the NFC during their 13 year championship run. These were the primary pass rushers on some of history’s best ever NFL defenses. He protected the blind side for Neil Lomax and Tim Rosenbach.

He overcame addiction in his post playing career, turned his life over to Christ and spoke at many Hall of Fame events. Luis  had a great sense of humor and always had an encouraging word with all the fans he came across. In real life & social media. During Super Bowl LVII here in Phoenix we kept missing each other and were supposed to meet but between interviews on Radio Row and all the events it didn’t happen. In one of my pics elsewhere at Ditka Jaws Cigar Party I put up a pic with Seth Joyner and Luis let me know it was Seth who invited him to church which fueled his relationship with the Lord. He learned #59 did the same for me back in 2015 and Luis & I had an even greater connection.

One of the last times he came to visit Pheonix, I was out in Southern Cal getting married. Those missed connections felt like minor setbacks as we would sit and break bread in the future and we didn’t get the chance.

It was fun to recall the NFL wars and games with his UCLA Bruins and learned I attended one of his games in Ohio Stadium in 1980. Even recalling a brawl in the ’86 preseason between the Super Bowl champion Bears & his St Louis Cardinals. He and the great Wilber Marshall were locked in combat that went beyond the whistle. I would tease him with Marshall pics on Facebook. All in good fun…

His response in this one:

One of God’s fiercest warriors who battled in NFL trenches for 13 years and yet maintained a sense of humor, pride and honor with the men he played with and against. I was taken aback when i didn’t see a #67 decal or a commemorative patch on the Cardinals uniform.

Commemorative patch worn by the 1992 Philadelphia Eagles in Jerome Brown’s memory.

One like the 1992 Philadelphia Eagles wore in memory of Jerome Brown who passed a few months before the season. Or the “Spider 43” patch adorned on the ’86 NY Giants jersey they carried to the Super Bowl XXI championship. It was for fallen Giant Cornerback “Spider” Lockhart who played back in the 60s & 70s in forgettable years for the Giants who had just passed. Its not just your Hall of Fame players you do this for but those rank and file players who gave blood and guts for their team. Even in games when you were up against a superior opponent facing long odds.

I hope the Cardinals do that here. A former player whose spirit to fight back and never give up had everything to do with how Luis Sharpe faced life, faith and adversity on the field of battle.Your team should know one of the fiercest Cardinals and draw inspiration from his storied journey. Especially your offensive linemen. Keep in mind this is the 1st season the NFL will give “The Protector of The Year Award to the best OLineman out there.

If you need an idea for a patch here is an image to craft it from when Luis was blocking Eagles DE Clyde Simmons.

Arizona Cardinals let’s go with a tribute for Luis with a decal or patch for the 2025 season.

RIP Luis, miss joking about football with you already.