Shannon Sharpe Starts HBCU Nightcap Tour

Shannon Sharpe is known for many things. He’s a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, a Super Bowl champion, and a sports debate show legend.

As the years go by, Sharpe is also know for his podcast called Nightcap, which he hosts with former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.

Sharpe is bringing his present-day platform to his early-day stomping grounds, as the former Savannah State football star is bringing Nightcap on the road to tour at various HBCU campuses.

The tour began at Prairie View A&M, which hosted a live show on September 4 at the “Baby Dome”. It took place a couple of days before the football team’s rivalry game against Texas Southern.

OH YEAH! Nightcap is hitting the road and going on an HBCU Tour! We’re pulling up to Prairie View A&M first LIVE from the Baby Dome on September 4th 👀 It’s about to go down! @ShannonSharpe | @ochocinco | @TheJoeJohnson7 | #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/9CqSQcgpmw

— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) August 24, 2026

Sharpe said, “The show will feature everyone, the team, the cheerleaders, the band, including a fraternity and sorority step show competition for cash prizes.”

The former Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens tight end added, “So PV, we gonna need you to turn up. We gonna need you to come out, support, ‘cause this is, hey, this is it. This is what we’ve been planning. This is something that’s been in the making for a better part of two years. And we’ve finally been able to pull it off.”

It’s a continuation of Sharpe and Johnson’s conversations about the value and atmosphere that HBCU’s bring from an educational and cultural perspective. For example, the two former NFL stars both promised to donate $50,000 to Southern University’s Human Jukebox Marching Band after they had a viral performance.

Sharpe has often talked about the benefits he personally experienced by going to an HBCU.

“One of the greatest decisions I ever made. Because I got with people that taught me history, taught my history,” Sharpe said during an appearance on a Fox college football broadcast years ago. “And helped me have a better understanding of what my history, what blacks have done in America.”

Johnson attended Prairie View’s homecoming festivites back in 2024, and was blown away by the atmosphere.

“I promise this time when I talk about Prairie View, I’m not gonna cry,” he said. “I’m not going to get emotional. But that is something that all people, if you go to a PWI or you go to a private school or anything of that nature, you need to experience a homecoming at some HBCU at a state near you.”

Johnson has spoken about his daughter graduating from Prairie View and his excitement to see people he previously met through his daughter’s experience there.

“Hey, I’m hyped. You know, my baby just graduated from PV last year,” Johnson said. “She’s…I don’t wanna be disrespectful, but she wear the pink and green, right? You know, so I’m happy to go back. I know the band director, I know the head coach, so I’m excited. I haven’t had the opportunity to go back to PV since then. You know, it’s right down the road, boy, I can’t wait.”

Additional details regarding the tour’s future stops after the Prairie View A&M vs. Texas Southern matchup are not yet available, but it seems like the Nightcap hosts are committed to bringing their presence to several campuses throughout the college football season.