Tag: Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Former Chiefs executive Carl Peterson selected for 2023 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame class

Former #Chiefs executive Carl Peterson was selected for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 and will receive the President’s Award.

A former Kansas City Chiefs executive will headline the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 when they’re enshrined on April 23. Carl Peterson will receive the President’s Award in 2023, which is bestowed upon those who most champion sports in Missouri.

Peterson wore multiple hats for the Chiefs during his tenure with the team serving as president, CEO and general manager from 1989 through 2008. Legendary head coaches such as Marty Schottenheimer, Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil and Herm Edwards were in Kansas City during Peterson’s stead as the team’s top executive. Under his watchful eye, the Chiefs had a great deal of success with a 176-141-1 overall record. The problem for Peterson’s teams in Kansas City always came down to the postseason, with just a 3-9 record in playoff games.

That, however, doesn’t take away from the job that Peterson did bringing relevance to Chiefs football again. His success came after 16 seasons where Kansas City hadn’t gone to but a single playoff game. 14 of those seasons the team was .500 or worse during the regular season.

Peterson will be joined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame 2023 class by former Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, former Sporting KC defender Matt Besler, and Olympian Muna Lee, among others. You can read about the entire 2023 class here.

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Former Chiefs LT Willie Roaf inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Former #Chiefs LT Willie Roaf was enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday evening as part of its 2022 class.

Former Kansas City Chiefs LT Willie Roaf was among the athletes and contributors enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday evening. Nearly 20 years from when he was acquired in trade by the Chiefs in March of 2002, Roaf has been recognized for a career of greatness. He played just four years in Kansas City, but they were as memorable and impactful as they come.

Roaf came to the Chiefs after nearly a decade of dominance with the New Orleans Saints. He was coming off of injury, which made the former All-Pro affordable in trade, coasting Kansas City just a third-round draft pick. Chiefs HC Dick Vermeil needed to solidify his offensive line, moving former LT John Tait to RT and plugging Roaf in on the left side.

In his first season in Kansas City, Roaf helped the Chiefs to roll out a high-powered offense that led the NFL in scoring. He’d go on to start in 58 games for the Chiefs during the course of four seasons. The team boasted a top 10 offense each of those years, with the offensive line paving the way for a dominant rushing attack featuring Priest Holmes, plus some elite chemistry between QB Trent Green and TE Tony Gonzalez in the passing game.

Over the course of his career, Roaf earned seven First-Team All-Pro selections. He also was voted to 11 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s and the 2000s.

Roaf retired from the NFL in 2006. He’s now become one of over 50 Chiefs players, coaches and contributors to have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Saints’ Ring of Honor in 2008, the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor in 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Former Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

#Chiefs legend Tamba Hali was immortalized in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

A Kansas City Chiefs legend was immortalized in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday at their annual football luncheon.

Former Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali was one of five athletes, coaches or contributors named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s latest class of inductees. He joined Mizzou running back Devin West, Central Missouri quarterback Scott Loveland, Salem High School coach Bill Schuchardt, and Lebanon radio broadcaster Kevin Stubblefield as the latest group of inductees.

Hali, who had his ceremonial retirement in Kansas City in May of 2021, is now one of 50 Chiefs players, coaches and contributors to have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He joins great pass-rushers like Neil Smith, Derrick Thomas and Art Still.

Here is what the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame had to say about Hali in their press release:

“Hali was among the best pass rushers in Kansas City Chiefs history, doing so years after escaping the war-torn West African country of Liberia at age 10 and making a new home in the United States. A first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Penn State University, he spent his entire National Football League career with the Chiefs, covering 12 seasons (2006-2017) and helping the team to six playoff berths. He is second only to the legendary Derrick Thomas (126.5) in career sacks (89.5) and ahead of Neil Smith’s 85.5 and Justin Houston’s 78.5. Thomas (MSHOF 2021) and Smith (MSHOF 2008) have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, Hali also forced 33 fumbles, second only to Thomas’ 45 and four more than Smith’s 29. Additionally, Hali started at least 15 games every season from 2006 to 2014 and started 14 in 2015. At Penn State, Hali was a consensus NCAA All-American in 2005 and was part of the Orange Bowl team that beat Florida State 26-23 in three overtimes. In 2006, he earned his U.S. citizenship.”

Hali’s contributions to the Chiefs’ franchise will forever be recognized in the state of Missouri. It’s a well-deserved honor for a player who gave his all during his time in Kansas City.

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