It’s finally happened. After years of being overlooked and under appreciated, a Dallas Cowboys legend is finally getting his spot among the all-time elites. Wide receiver Drew Pearson, a first-team member of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1970s had been the highest career accolades except for one. A three-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion, Pearson has been firmly entrenched in the club’s Ring of Honor since 2011.
Now, he’s also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The lone Senior Committee Finalist, Pearson was finally awarded his path to a gold jacket on Saturday evening as part of the NFL Honors celebration ahead of Super Bowl LV. He will be a member of the Class of 2021.
BREAKING: @88DrewPearson has been elected to the Class of 2021!#PFHOF21 | @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/Xi6J41A7gv
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 7, 2021
Former Cowboys WR Drew Pearson is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/3nWIakispf
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 7, 2021
The original 88, Pearson accumulated a Career AV of 99 over his 156 games. He’ll forever live in NFL lore as the receiving end of the first Hail Mary, and caught 489 passes across his 144 starts. Pearson averaged 16 yards per reception and hauled in 48 career touchdowns while making three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 1977.
Pearson was famously the only member of either the first or second-team offense of the All-Decade 70s team not in the Hall of Fame. Last year, Cowboys safety Cliff Harris was the final member of the All-Decade defense to be elected.
He, along with former head coach Jimmy Johnson, will join Pearson in a ceremony this August after last year’s process was delayed due to COVID-19.
In 2019, Cowboys Wire named Pearson the No. 22 player in the team’s illustrious team history.
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