What happened to Greg Sharpe? Tributes pour in as beloved Husker Radio Broadcaster dies a week before daughter’s wedding

The Voice of Nebraska Football and Baseball, Greg Sharpe, has passed away at 61. The news of his death was announced by Sharpe’s family on Saturday, February 15, 2025, in a joint statement.

Greg Sharpe passed away amidst his battle with pancreatic cancer. He had initially announced his diagnosis in April 2024 on the Nebraska Huskers’ Sports Nightly show. According to the state-owned Nebraska Public Media, Sharpe was diagnosed after encountering a shooting pain in his shoulder.

The radio broadcaster was visiting his daughter overseas when he experienced intense pain in his shoulder. Initially, Sharpe thought it was a rotator cuff issue, but upon his return to the USA, the Huskar Radio sportscaster underwent an MRI, which revealed a tumor. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Greg Sharpe told Nebraska Public Media,

“The MRI revealed a tumor in the shoulder, and tumors obviously don't start there. They start with an organ of some type, so then I went and did more scans. That's when they found that it was pancreatic cancer with spots also in the liver and the lung.”

After announcing his battle with cancer, Sharpe had two primary goals – returning to the booth for the 2024 season’s kickoff and being at his daughter’s wedding. The play-by-play radio announcer made it back to the booth on August 31, 2024, and kicked off the season, but unfortunately, he passed away a week before his daughter’s wedding.

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Greg Sharpe passed away a week before his daughter’s wedding

Making it to his daughter’s wedding was one of the two goals Greg had set for himself after getting diagnosed with cancer. However, a week before his oldest daughter Emily’s wedding, Sharpe passed away. The wedding is scheduled to happen on February 22, 2025, which he also shared with Nebraska Public Media,

“That's my next milepost. And sitting here today, I feel like I'm going to make that too.”

His family described Sharpe as a “wonderful husband, father, brother, friend and of course broadcaster.” In their official statement, Greg’s wife and daughters said,

“While his passion and energy on the call of Husker football and baseball brought joy to so many for the past 17 seasons, it comforts us to know that his legacy will live on through these same moments that he narrated and through the relationships that he built.”

The family showed gratitude towards the University of Nebraska, Playfly Sports, and the Husker Nation (a fandom of the Huskers) for displaying their support to Sharpe throughout his battle with cancer. They said,

“Over the last 12 months Greg has fought a very public battle with pancreatic cancer. Even though it was a grim diagnosis at the time, Greg chose to live and not to fear. He leaned into his faith, family and of course his professional calling of broadcasting Husker athletics. Without the support from the University of Nebraska, Playfly Sports and of course the best fans in college athletics, Husker Nation, he may not have been able to continue to fight and live the way that he did.”

Greg Sharpe was named Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year in December last year. In the fall of 2024, the University of Nebraska honored the broadcaster for its 17 years of service by renaming the radio booth at its stadium. It is now known as Greg Sharpe’s Radio Booth.

After his death, many paid their tributes, including Governor Nebraska, Jim Pillen, who called Greg the “voice of Nebraska’s cherished football and baseball traditions” and said,

“He invited all of us to be part of something bigger than ourselves. He led a heroic battle against cancer, and his story inspired Nebraskans across the state. Suzanne and I are praying for the Sharpe family during this time. We’ll miss you in the broadcast booth, Greg.”

When he was alive, Greg talked about the overwhelming love he received from the fans through letters, emails, and social media. Sharpe also displayed appreciation for his wife, Amy, who had remained by his side all along. Greg Sharpe is survived by his wife, Amy, and three daughters – Emily, Campbell, and Taylor.