NFL CAREER – A key free agent signing in March, the addition of Sharper immediately strengthened the secondary by bringing a proven performer with playmaking ability, leadership skills and a wealth of experience. Sharper – who leads all active NFL players with 54 interceptions in the regular season – has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times and scored 10 career defensive touchdowns. He has posted at least four interceptions eight of the past nine seasons, including an NFL-high nine in 2000, a total he also matched in 2005. In his career, Sharper has played in 183 contests, with 167 starts, and also seen action in 10 playoff games and started seven. He spent his first eight years with Green Bay – a stretch where the Packers claimed four division titles – before joining Minnesota in 2005, where he posted a career-high 276 yards in interception returns in his first season in a new uniform. Sharper has returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, a total that is tied for fifth in NFL history, as well as returned a pair of fumbles for scores. Originally a second-round pick by Green Bay in 1997, Sharper has posted 75 or more tackles 10 times in his career.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints (UFA-MIN), 3/24/09; Signed by Minnesota Vikings to a four-year contract, 3/12/05; Released by Green Bay Packers, 3/10/05; Re-signed by Green Bay to a six-year contract, 2/22/01; Signed by Green Bay to a four-year contract, 7/12/97; Drafted by Green Bay in second round (60th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.

HONORS – 2007: Pro Bowl. 2005: Pro Bowl, Associated Press All-Pro (second-team), NFC Defensive Player of the Month (November), NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12). 2002: Pro Bowl; Pro Football Weekly/PFWAAll-NFL; Sporting News All-Pro; Associated Press All-Pro (second-team), Football Digest All-Pro (second-team); Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-NFC. 2001: Sports Illustrated All-Pro; Football Digest All-Pro (second-team). 2000: Pro Bowl; Associated Press All-Pro; Sporting News All-Pro, Pro Football Weekly/PFWAAll-NFL; USA Today All-Pro; Pro Football Weekly/PFWAAll-NFC; Football Digest All-NFC.

2008 – Started all 16 games, including his 10th career playoff, game…Part of his fifth NFC North/Central title team since entering the NFL in 1997…Ranked sixth on the team with 78 tackles, added five pass defenses, a forced fumble and a career-high two fumble recoveries…Sealed victory vs. Houston by pouncing on onside kick, Nov. 2…Nov. 30 vs. Chicago had his 54th career INT, with 12-yard return. 2007 – Earned a starting spot in the Pro Bowl…Moved into fifth in NFL history with eighth interception return for a touchdown, and also passed the 1,000-yard mark for interception return yards in his career…Tied for Vikings lead with four interceptions, and added 80 tackles and 12 deflected passes…Had two interceptions at Detroit, Sept. 16…Returned an Eli Manning INT 20 yards for a TD at NY Giants, Nov. 25, in a day where the Vikings returned three interceptions for touchdowns. 2006 – Started all 16 games for the first time since 2001…Tied for team lead with four interceptions - including one in each meeting against the Lions…Ranked fourth on team with 93 tackles (59 solo), his highest total since 2001…Helped Vikings climb to eighth in total defense, and No. 1 vs. the run…Posted first sack since 2003 vs. San Francisco, Nov. 5. 2005 – Led the NFC and ranked third in the NFL with nine interceptions...Scored a pair of TDs on interception returns...Started all 14 games he appeared in, missing two contests with a knee injury…Earned starting spot in Pro Bowl...Named second-team All-Pro by Associated Press and first-team Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL...Earned first career NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor for performance at NY Giants, Nov. 13, and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, his first time winning the monthly honor...Led NFL and set a Vikings record with 276 interception return yards, the seventh-highest total in league history...Opened 2005 with an 88-yard TD return vs. Tampa Bay, the Vikings first points of the season, Sept. 11…Posted first career three-interception day - all of QB Eli Manning - including a career-long 92-yard return for a touchdown, at NY Giants, Nov. 13. Ended game with 123 return yards. 2004 – In final season with Green Bay, battled through a knee injury through much of season but still started 13 of the 15 games he appeared in...Inactive for only game of the season at Washington, Oct. 31, with a knee injury he suffered the week before vs. Dallas…Saw time in passing situations in the two games he did not start…Scored three defensive touchdowns, two off interceptions and one on a fumble recovery. TD total tied a Packers single-season record, equaling his own mark from 1997 and Herb Adderley in 1965…With four, led Packers in interceptions for fifth-straight season…Ranked fourth on the club with 77 tackles…Ended QB Kurt Warner's streak of 127 straight passes without an interception vs. NY Giants, Oct. 3…Oct. 17 at Detroit, snared an interception and weaved 36 yards for a touchdown…Scored second touchdown of season by knocking ball out of the hands of Jaguars OL Vince Manuwai, who believed the play was dead, alertly picking up the ball and running for 15 yards for a touchdown…Had a 43-yard INT return for a touchdown vs. Chicago, 1/2/05. 2003 – Started all 15 games played and both playoff games...Grabbed four of his five interceptions in the final six regular season games...Ranked fourth on team with 91 tackles...Tied career-highs with two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles...Named an alternate to the Pro Bowl... Set a career-high with two sacks at Chicago, Sept. 29…Posted 11 stops and a pair of forced fumbles at St. Louis, Oct. 19…Had a 50-yard interception return vs. Chicago, Dec . 7…Posted 10 tackles and an INT at the goal line at San Diego, Dec. 14. 2002 – Tied for third in the NFL with seven interceptions, only one behind the league leaders… Led the league with 233 interception return yards…Selected as the starting FS in the Pro Bowl…Started all 13 games he played...Missed two contests with a hamstring injury and inactive with a knee injury for the regular season finale and the Wild Card playoff game vs. Atlanta, 1/4/03…Led all Green Bay defensive backs with 80 tackles (54 solo) and added 10 pass defenses...Notched an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Miami, Nov. 4…At New Orleans, Sept. 14, had an interception with a 44-yard return to set up a Green Bay TD on the next play. 2001 – Ranked second on team with 113 tackles, matching his career-best...Set career-high with a pair of sacks and had six interceptions...Started all 16 regular season games and both playoff games...Had two INTs in opener vs. Detroit, Sept. 9…Posted 10 tackles and an interception vs. Baltimore, Oct. 14, with brother, Jamie, starting at LB for Ravens…Intercepted QB Kurt Warner in Divisional Playoff at St. Louis, 1/20/02. 2000 – Led NFL with nine interceptions, the first time a Packer led the NFL since Willie Wood in 1962...Made Pro Bowl debut, starting for the NFC at FS...Honored as an All-Pro by Associated Press, The Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, USA Today...Notched 101 tackles to rank third among Packers defenders, his second straight 100+ tackle season...Posted first career two-interception day at Arizona, Sept. 24, and duplicated performance vs. Minnesota, Nov. 6. 1999 – Led team with 113 tackles...Led or tied for team lead in stops in five of the final six contests…Notched a season-best 12 tackles at Tampa Bay, Dec. 26…Last minute INT vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 10, preserved 26-23 victory…Recorded first career sack at Dallas, Nov. 14. 1998 – Debuted as a starter in his second NFL season, opening all 16 games, 13 at FS and three at LCB...Ranked fourth on team with 89 tackles...Opened season as Packers starting FS before moving to LCB to replace Craig Newsome, who suffered a knee injury, for the final three contests… Had 89 stops on the season, 62 solo. 1997 – Regular on Packers dime defense as a rookie...Played in 14 games and in all three postseason games, including Super Bowl XXXII...Tied a Packers record and set a Green Bay rookie record by scoring three TDs, scoring on a pair of interceptions and a fumble return, breaking a Packers rookie record that had stood since 1933...Scored TDs on the first two interceptions of his career...Raced 50 yards on first career INT vs. Detroit, Nov. 2…Scored second TD on 34-yard fumble return vs. Dallas, Nov. 23…Third touchdown came on 20-yard interception return vs. Buffalo, Dec. 20.

COLLEGE – Earned All-America honors twice as a FS and return man at Division I-AAWilliam & Mary...Named All-Yankee Conference three times... Departed with a school-record 24 career interceptions and a I-AA record 468 career interception return yards...Set school record with 1,037 career punt return yards...Earned Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior...Tied for I-AA lead with 10 picks as a senior...Team advanced to I-AA national quarterfinals as a senior...Won conference title as senior in 1996, the school's first since 1970…Was inducted into the William & Mary Hall of Fame in Spring of 2008…Earned a bachelor's degree in sociology.

PERSONAL – Active in several community programs at every stop in his NFL career and in his home state of Virginia, and has a foundation, “Sharper Kids”…Brother, Jamie, played linebacker in the NFL for eight seasons…The Sharper brothers were the 34th and 30th picks in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Jamie going to Baltimore with the 34th overall pick and Darren to Green Bay with the 60th selection...Father, Harry, went to training camp with Kansas City in 1971...Played with current Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin at William & Mary, where the pair were also fraternity brothers...Worked as a TV color commentator for NFL Europa games in from 2004-07…Standout QB at Hermitage HS (Richmond, Va.), where his brother was a teammate.