NFL legend explains how he accidentally streamed himself having sex on live Instagram video

Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe has revealed the truth about his viral live sex stream on Instagram.

Sharpe inadvertently created headlines on Wednesday night after accidentally live streaming himself having sex with a woman to his 3.2 million followers on Instagram.

While Sharpe and the unidentified woman did not appear on camera, they could be overheard engaging in sexual activity during a live stream.

The three-time Super Bowl champion, who spent the majority of his career with the Denver Broncos, initially claimed his account had been hacked.

But the Pro Football Hall of Famer - who has since moved into broadcasting with CBS, FOX and ESPN after retirement - has now apologised for the live stream, admitting he wasn't hacked.

"Obviously I am embarrassed. Someone that is extremely, extremely private and to have one of your most intimate details – the audio – heard for the entire world to hear, I'm embarrassed for a number of reasons," Sharpe said during an emergency episode of YouTube series Nightcap.

"There are a lot of people that count on Shannon to be professional at all times and I always try to be professional at all times, even when I'm behind closed doors. I'm very disappointed in myself, not for the act.

"I think there are millions and billions of people of consenting age that engage in activities, but for the audio to be heard I'm disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down."

Shannon Sharpe has explained what happened (Image: Getty)

Sharpe offered an explanation as to how the video was streamed without his knowledge.

"I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity," Sharpe said.

"I did not know IG live. I've never turned IG live on so I don't know how it works and all of sudden my other phone started going off."

Sharpe went on to explain that his marketing partner Jamie Fritz was the one who was finally able to get through to him, to alert him of the situation.

"My phone wasn't hacked. It wasn't a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male," he added.

"Ya'll thought I was bulljiving, Unc get it in."