Former Green Bay Packers edge rusher Julius Peppers was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot as part of a seven-player induction class in 2024.
Peppers joined linebacker Patrick Willis, edge rusher Dwight Freeney, returner Devin Hester, receiver Andre Johnson, defensive tackle Steve McMichael and linebacker Randy Gradishar in the 2024 class announced Thursday night at NFL Honors.
Peppers will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Canton, Ohio.
Peppers played three seasons in Green Bay (2014-16). He produced 25.0 sacks, 45 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and 14 pass breakups across 48 regular season games. Peppers appeared in seven playoff games with the Packers, adding 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles to his totals. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015.
Peppers, a nine-time Pro Bowler, played 10 seasons with the Carolina Panthers and four with the Chicago Bears. He produced 10.0 sacks in 14 games against the Packers. His only playoff game against the Packers was the NFC Championship Game defeat as a member of the Bears during the 2010 season.
Here is Peppers’ Hall of Fame bio:
Dominant defensive end who finished career fourth on all-time sacks list with 159.5 … Only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 or more interceptions … Second all-time with 52 career forced fumbles … At the time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time among defensive players with 266 games played … Carolina Panthers franchise leader in sacks (97), forced fumbles (34) and blocked field goals (eight) … One of four players to record 10 seasons with 10-plus sacks, other three are Hall of Famers … Named 2002 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year by AP and PFWA … Led league with 18 tackles for loss in 2006 … Totaled 719 tackles, 175 tackles for loss, 186 quarterback hits … Voted to nine Pro Bowls … Three time first-team All-Pro, three times on second team … Member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of both the 2000s and 2010s.
McMichael, who made the Hall of Fame in his 29th year of eligibility, played 13 years with the Bears but finished his NFL career as a member of the Packers in 1994. He had 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 16 games in ’94.