Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Watch highlights of all eight Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speeches.
On Saturday, eight men joined football’s greatest fraternity, as they were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sam Mills, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Art McNally, Tony Boselli, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, and Dick Vermeil either accepted their honors in person in Canton, Ohio, or were represented
Here are highlights of each induction speech.
Who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, and how can you watch the ceremonies? We have the answers.
At 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have its annual ceremony celebrating a new class of enshrines.
From ESPN, who will televise the event:
ESPN’s coverage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement returns for the 27th year on Saturday, Aug. 6, as eight enshrines officially enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Coverage of the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN, a new afternoon time for the annual event. ESPN Radio will also offer live coverage of the event.
The class of 2022 consists of eight “Heroes of the Game:” Tony Boselli (Jacksonville Jaguars), Cliff Branch (Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders), Leroy Butler (Green Bay Packers), Art McNally (National Football League Official), Sam Mills (New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers), Richard Seymour (New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders), Dick Vermeil (Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs) and Bryant Young (San Francisco 49ers).
Live from Canton, Ohio, ESPN’s 26-year veteran host Suzy Kolber will anchor the Enshrinement Ceremony with ESPN’s NFL front office insider Louis Riddick and 2016 Dick McCann Award winner Chris Mortensen. For the 22nd year, ESPN’s Chris Berman, who was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2010, will emcee the ceremony.
ESPN Radio will also broadcast the enshrinees’ speeches and share insights from special guests throughout the day on Saturday. On the ground in Canton, Jaguars’ reporter, Mike DiRocco will be covering all festivities around the induction ceremonies on behalf of NFL Nation.
(All enshrinee information courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame).
15 finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame announced:
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 finalists for the class of 2022 this week.
Here is the full list:
This group was broken down from an initial list of 123 nominees. It was reduced to 26 semifinalists on Nov. 24.
In addition, Dick Vermeil, Art McNally and Cliff Branch, the finalists in the Coach, Contributor and Senior categories, respectively, also are candidates for the Class of 2022.
The eventual inductees will be announced on Feb. 10 at the NFL Honors.
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Will this be the year Hines Ward finally gets the nod for the HOF?
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The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 26 modern-era semifinalists for the 2022 class of the hall of fame. This marks the sixth time former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has been nominated for the HOF.
Ward spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Steelers. After being a third-round pick out of Georgia back in 1998, Ward quickly became not only a fan favorite but one of the most dependable receivers in the league.
In his career, Ward has 1,000 career receptions. He is one of only 14 receivers in league history to eclipse that mark. Ward has 12,083 career receiving yards and 85 receiving touchdowns. He was named to the four Pro Bowls, named an All-Pro three times and was named a Super Bowl MVP once.
If we are being honest, getting Ward into the Hall of Fame is an uphill climb. The wide receiver position is so saturated and players with far more dynamic careers are still waiting on an opportunity to get in. Ward was steady and consistent but can you ever say Ward was ever the best receiver in the league in a given year?
Let us know in the comments if the sixth time is the charm for Ward.
BREAKING: 7 first-year eligible players are among the list of 26 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists for the Class of 2022.
More on the semifinalists: https://t.co/C4z4QkeAF5#PFHOF22 pic.twitter.com/E9SnNGRGeX
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 24, 2021
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After 8 years, David Baker is retiring as President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The familiar knock will have a different tone going forward when former players learn they have made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
David Baker revealed on Saturday he will be leaving his position as President and Executive Director of the Canton, Oh, organization after 8 years.
According to the Hall of Fame release, Baker will continue to represent the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Ring of Excellence Ceremonies honoring members of the Centennial Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 at National Football League stadiums for the remainder of the presentation schedule as the retired President & Executive Director.
“As I approach the end of nearly eight years of service to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Baker said in a statement released by the Hall, “I have come to the conclusion that it is time for someone else to have the ‘best job in the world’ so I can still do a few more exciting things in my professional life while also returning home to our four children, 10 grandchildren and soon-to-be great grandson in Orange County, California, whom I’ve missed so much during my tenure at ‘The Most Inspiring Place on Earth.’ “
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) October 16, 2021
Jim Porter, the Hall of Fame’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, has been named President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Here are few highlights from Bill Cowher’s Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
When former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher thanked those who shaped him, he included both the Cleveland Browns and Philadephia Eagles organizations — the two teams Cowher played for before coaching.
With all of the Steelers fans in Canton, it was no surprise that a smattering of boos came over the crowd at the mere mention of the Cleveland Browns. “Oh, no, no, don’t go there. I have two kids that were born in Cleveland,” Cowher said with his signature smirk.
Besides the Browns boos, here are three great moments from Cowher’s Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
Tom Brady jokes about attending Peyton Manning’s Hall of Fame induction:
Peyton Manning will have a familiar face at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sunday. Former rival and current Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will be in attendance.
Throughout Manning’s career, the two quarterbacks faced off in numerous AFC showdowns. Despite that, the two often displayed a friendship off the field which clearly still rings true with Brady showing his support this weekend.
Manning confirmed Brady will be there during the broadcast of the Hall of Fame preseason game on Thursday.
“Tom Brady is coming in, sitting in my section. I’m not sure how my Colts teammates will handle that,” Manning said. “But that means a lot that he’s taking the time.”
Brady has explained his pending appearance in Canton, Ohio. In the social media persona that Brady has dusted off since joining Twitter, Brady joked that he’s just going to make sure Manning doesn’t have second thoughts:
I just need to make sure he’s really done. Can’t risk this guy coming back… https://t.co/8afUVxicjO
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) August 6, 2021
Brady, who is looking to defend his Super Bowl title from last season, might have a sliver of seriousness in the back of his mind.
Super Bowls? Brady has seven to Manning’s two. Head-to-head, Brady hold an 11-6 record vs. Manning as well.
But in the postseason season, Manning has the 3-2 edge…
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Troy Polamalu has tested positive for COVID-19 a week before his HOF induction
Legendary Pittsburgh Steeler DB Troy Polamalu is going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, next week.
Now, there is a question of whether he will be able to attend the ceremonies.
Polamalu took to Twitter on Friday and announced he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Fam,
I recently tested positive for the Covid-19. Thank God I feel great and family are well. I’m working with the HOF to ensure we abide by all protocols to make it to Canton in time for all the festivities…— Troy Polamalu (@tpolamalu) July 30, 2021
Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic postponing the Class of 2020 induction until this year, Polamalu would already be enshrined.
Polamalu played 12 seasons as a strong safety with the Steelers from 2003-2014.
The Class of 2020 will be inducted on Aug. 7 with the Class of 2021 following on Aug. 8.
“We are disappointed for Troy right now and pray for his quick recovery with no complications,” David Baker, President & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a press release. “We’ll work with him to make sure he’s honored as an enshrinee the way he should be — and that’s mindful of others in the Centennial Class, fans and everyone else in attendance. He had an incredible football career and will have an equally incredible career as a Hall of Famer.”
Late New York Giants general manager George Young will honored during 2021 NFL draft weekend.
Former New York Giants general manager George Young and eight other new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will receive special recognition with a TV program on the weekend of the NFL draft.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will celebrate the careers and contributions of nine men – members of either the Centennial Class of 2020 or the Class of 2021 – during a 90-minute special that will air Saturday, May 1 on NFL Network and Tuesday, May 4 on ESPN2.
Those to be honored posthumously during “Hall of Famer Forever: Enshrinement Special” are Centennial Class of 2020 members Bobby Dillon, Winston Hill, Alex Karras, Steve Sabol, Duke Slater, Mac Speedie, Ed Sprinkle and George Young, as well as Bill Nunn from the Class of 2021.
Dillon, Hill, Karras, Nunn, Sabol, Slater, Speedie, Sprinkle and Young also will be recognized this summer during their respective Enshrinements – the Centennial Class of 2020 on Saturday, Aug. 7 and the Class of 2021 on Sunday, Aug. 8.
Young was the Giants’ general manager from 1979-1997, leading them out of the “wilderness era” to two Super Bowl championships and changing the culture of the franchise.
Young was named NFL Executive of the Year five times and also won a Super Bowl and an NFL championship as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts from 1968-1974.
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Deion Sanders led Jackson State to a 53-0 victory in front of former Cowboys teammate Troy Aikman
As head-coaching debuts go, Deion Sanders and Jackson State could not have found a softer opponent, which led to a predictably successful result.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back led the Tigers against NAIA school Edward Waters on Sunday at Mississippi Veteran Memorial Stadium. Jackson State went on to a 53-0 victory over a school that was coming off a 1-10 season.
WE WENT FOR 50 🥶#IBelieve pic.twitter.com/0Ky7W7ZcrA
— Jackson State Football (@GoJSUTigersFB) February 21, 2021
Sanders had an unexpected visitor in another Hall of Famer. Former Dallas Cowboys star Troy Aikman was in attendance.
Troy Aikman surprised former Cowboys teammate Deion Sanders for Deion’s coaching debut at Jackson State
(via @TroyAikman’s Instagram) pic.twitter.com/WOsl6vk0Cz
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) February 21, 2021
Aikman and Sanders played together on the Cowboys from 1995-99 and won the 1995 Super Bowl. Aikman received a COVID-19 test before heading down to the field.
