Shannon Sharpe expected to sign $100 million deal

Any revenue Sharpe would earn from this deal is also separate from what he earns as a panelist on ESPN's "First Take." The former tight end entered sports media as many ex-players do — mostly as a panelist on football-related shows.

As Sharpe's personality began to shine through, it took on a life of its own. The ex-Denver Bronco came into his own as a co-host of Skip Bayless on Fox Sports 1's "Undisputed." The show would become a legitimate rival to "First Take," before differences led to Sharpe parting ways with Fox.

In addition to athletes, Sharpe has interviewed singers, actors, comedians and other celebrities for his shows on the Volume network. The "Club Shay Shay" YouTube channel has over four million subscribers, while "Nightcap" with Chad Ochocinco has nearly two million.

Sharpe's deal with Volume also includes other popular shows like former NBA player Jeff Teague's "Club 520."

Shannon Sharpe was one of the greatest players of all time on the field, and he's given former players a clear blueprint on how to handle life after the NFL. We've seen other players like the Kelce brothers follow in his footsteps with podcasts and major media appearances.

As he and his team prepare to negotiate another major contract, it seems that Sharpe is well on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer in the sports media world as well.