Congratulations to the Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

 

Congratulations to the newest class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Five new members were inducted on Saturday, August 8th, including a running back who had to wait way too long to be selected.

Adam Vinatieri, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Roger Craig joined the greats of the game. I was fortunate to see Brees play in person at the then Trans World Dome in St. Louis, before Stan Kroenke bought out the rest of the Rams stock, from the estate of Georgia Frontierre. Kroenke then ran the Rams into the ground to get the team out of the Midwest and into a much larger market on the West Coast.

Brees played against the Rams and I saw him play in-person twice. I remember him as a guy who would figure out a way to beat you if given the time. He helped win a Super Bowl for the city of New Orleans a couple of years after Hurricane Katrina damaged much of the city. Brees and the Saints beat the Colts in the 2010 Super played on February 7.

Craig revolutionized the RB position by becoming the first to gain over 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving. He was one tough son of a gun. Unfortunately, the only times I got to see him play were on television. I watched a lot of 49er games after the Rams left St. Louis. I was a fan of the 49ers from the late 80s into the mid 90s.

Vinatieri was the guy who kicked a game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002. The Rams had battled back to tie the game at 17 each with 90 seconds left in regulation. As a Rams fan, I thought it would go to OT, but the Pats drove down to the Rams 20-yard line with no timeouts. Vinatieri came on the field and made a 48-yard FG to win it for New England as time expired. He becomes one of just five kickers in the Hall of Fame.

Fitzgerald was a favorite of mine with Arizona. He played 17 years, all with the Cardinals. The Cardinals have been charter members of the NFL since 1922. However, the franchise has played in just one Super Bowl. Fitzgerald is a key reason Arizona made it to Super Bowl XLII in February 2009. Fitzgerald scored twice in the game. (He scored on a 64-yard pass/run with 2:47 left in the game to put the Cardinals up 23-20). But, Fitzgerald had an even better post-season. In four playoff games, he had 30 catches for 546 yards and seven touchdowns. His quarterback that year was Kurt Warner, who'd won Super Bowl 32 with the St. Louis Rams. And, the Cardinals came close to winning the game until the Pittsburgh Steelers scored with 7 seconds left in the game. I've watched every game, (not always start to finish), since Super Bowl 1 in 1967. This is the best Super Bowl ever played!

Kuechly was a tackling machine. He played only eight seasons in the NFL. All of them with the Carolina Panthers. He played his first season in 2012 and retired after the 2019 season. Kuechly cited concussions for his retirement after that season. My guess is, had Kuechly played in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago he would have been better known and a superstar. But, opposing offenses knew him and how good he was. Three times he helped his team to the post-season playoffs. In early 2016, the Panthers, with Kuechly's defensive play, made it to Super Bowl 50.

Congratulations to all five of these men in the Canton class of 2026!

Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction

I'm late in posting this, but congratulations to the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class in Canton, Ohio two weeks ago today, on August 2nd.  While I've lost interest in the National Football League, due to its business practices and monopoly, I still have the utmost respect for these players who are among the best to ever play the game.  The 2025 class includes Defensive Back Eric Allen, Defensive End Jared Allen, Tight End Antonio Gates and Wide Receiver Sterling Sharpe.

By clicking the links for each player, it will take you to their induction speech.

Jared Allen

Sterling Sharpe

Eric Allen

Antonio Gates

Congratulations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

The Professional Football Hall of Fame installed its newest class this past Saturday night in Canton, Ohio.

This year's class is comprised of eight players.  They are DE Dwight Freeney, LB Randy Gradishar,  KR/PR/WR Devin Hester, WR Andre Johnson, DT Steve McMichael, DE Julius Peppers and LB Patrick Willis.

I was fortunate enough to see McMichael play against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 80s and old Busch Stadium II in downtown St. Louis.  I also saw Julius Peppers play in person at the TWA Dome, later known as the Edward Jones Dome. Peppers was a beast causing havoc in the St. Louis Rams backfield in the 00s and teens. I also had the chance to watch Gradishar and the "Orange Crush" beat up on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. I was living in Columbia, Mo in the 80's and Arrowhead was about the same distance as Busch Stadium.

Rather than write a long article about each of these players I will defer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website for this year's players and activities.

Don Coryell Finally Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The late Don Coryell is one of nine new members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio yesterday.  Coryell coached both the St. Louis Football Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers during a long and innovative career in the National Football League.  Joining Coryell in the 2023 class are Rondé Barber, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis, Ken Riley, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas and DeMarcus Ware.

Prior to coaching in the NFL, Coryell coached in the college ranks for 24 years with his last stop at San Diego State where he coached the Aztecs.  While there he developed and refined what is now known as the Power-I formation.  Coryell also featured the passing game prominently in his later years with the Aztecs and with both the Cardinals and Chargers.

I had the good fortune of watching Coryell pace the sidelines at Cardinal games in the mid 70s when they were known as the "Cardiac Cards", for winning games in the last seconds of the fourth quarter.  In his first year as head coach in St. Louis, 1973, Coryell went 4-9-1.  But, in 1974 he turned the Cardinals fortunes around and won the NFC East championship with a 10-4 record.  It was the first time the Big Red had won a division title since 1948.  The team played Minnesota in the playoffs and lost 30-14 as the Cardinals turned the ball over several times which led to Viking scores.

In 1975 the Cardinals finished 11-3 while again winning the NFC Eastern Division.  I recall seeing three games at Old Busch Stadium that year (Busch Stadium II) and the team continued to live up to its name of "The Cardiac Cardinals".  Coryell and the Big Red snatched victory from defeat in the closing seconds of a number of games including over the Redskins at Busch with Mel Gray's "Immaculate Reception".  Even though the Rams had an 11-3 record the team had to travel to Los Angeles for the first round of playoffs.  The Rams jumped on the Cardinals early intercepting two Jim Hart passes and never looked back.  The Rams ended up winning that game 35-23.

In 1976 Coryell and the Cardiac Cardinals posted a 10-4 record.  But, due to the National Football League's tie breaking provisions the Big Red missed out to the Washington Red Skins.  The Cardinals were riddled with injuries and had problems holding onto the ball on offense.  Despite the setbacks the Cardinals set team records for most first downs and total yards.  I can say this was due to Coryell's offense and the players on that side of the ball.

In 1977 it all came crashing down.  The Cardinals and Coryell had a 7-3 record and were in first place in the NFC East going into a Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins.  I had a chance to go to the game but it snowed about six inches the night before the game and it was very cold.  I decided to stay home with family and watch it on TV.  That, and as a college student, I looked forward to loading up on turkey and the trimmings rather than eating hot dogs at Busch Stadium.  The Big Red were blown out by the Dolphins 55-14.  Following that loss the Grid Birds lost their final three games and missed the playoffs.  At the end of the season Coryell talked with San Diego writer Jack Murphy in a conversation, he mistakenly thought was off the record.  Coryell wasn't happy and his remarks, which ended up being published, cost him his job when Cardinal owner Bill Bidwill fired him.  This created a backlash with St. Louis fans who became even more critical of Bidwill than they had been previously.  Coryell ended his years in St. Louis with a win-loss record of 42-27-1.

Coryell landed on his feet in San Diego in 1978 and took the Chargers to the playoffs four times in the next nine years.  While there he compiled a record of 69-56 with a playoff record of 3-4.  If you do the math, his final professional coaching record was 111-83-1.

I loved those days of watching the "Cardiac Cards" and "Air Coryell" win in the final seconds.  With the Cardinal offenses they were never out of a game until the final second had ticked off the clock.  I count myself fortunate to have seen them play in person and see Coryell and his offensive innovations.  Those teams featured some very good players from the entire offensive line that rarely gave up a sack, to Jim Hart, Mel Gray, Terry Metcalf, Roger Wehrli and Jim Bakken.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's recognition of coach Don Coryell is well deserved and long overdue.

Congratulations Dick Vermeil!

It was 22 years in the making but it finally happened.  Saint Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday afternoon.  Vermeil coached the Rams to their only Super Bowl Championship in St. Louis in the fall of 1999 and won the big game in late January 2000.

Vermeil came to the Rams and had losing records in 1997 and 1998 winning just nine games over those two years.  But, then in 1999 a pre-season injury to starter Trent Green led to Kurt Warner taking the reins of a very talented team that came to be known as "The Greatest Show on Turf".

Under Vermeil's direction and tutelage that 1999 Rams team turned it around posting a 13-3 record.  It then beat the Vikings in the playoffs and the Buccaneers to win the NFC Championship.  On Sunday January 30, 2000 the St. Louis Rams became world champions beating the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in Super Bowl 34.  I remember watching the NFL's highlight film a few months later and Vermeils only audible reaction to the win was simply "Super Bowl Champions".

Vermeil won his gold jacket to the Hall of Fame by coaching 15 seasons in the NFL and winning 120 games.  He also took the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl 15 in 1980 where the Eagles lost to the Oakland Raiders and John Madden 27-10.  Vermeil also coached the Kansas City Chiefs for five years taking them to the playoffs one time.  All together Vermeil's NFL teams appeared in the post season six times.

A total of eight men were elected to the Hall in Canton, Ohio.  In addition to Vermeil, Tony Boselli, Cliff Branch, Leroy Butler, Art McNally, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, and Bryant Young were enshrined in a nationally broadcast ceremony.

Congratulations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022!

Congratulations Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Traditionally I have posted congratulations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.  While my interest in professional football is not what it once was the men inducted into this year's class worked as hard as anyone who has ever played to earn their spot in Canton, Ohio.

I count myself fortunate to have seen some of these guys play in person and the rest on television.  So, without further ado, congratulations to:contributor Bobby Beathard, linebacker Robert Brazile, safety Brian Dawkins, guard Jerry Kramer, linebacker Ray Lewis, wide receiver Randy Moss, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and linebacker Brian Urlacher.

It took a longtime for Kramer and Brazile to get to Canton, but the honor is well deserved for each of these men.  Congratulations class of 2018!

2017 Hall of Fame - Football

Over the weekend the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio inducted seven new members into the ranks of its membership.  Those inducted were Morten Anderson, Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jerry Jones, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kurt Warner.

During the past 30 years I saw all of them play.  Briefly each of them was unique in their own way in which they dominated the game.

-Anderson impressed me with the longevity of his career. He played for five teams over 25 years and was named to the NFL All Decade Teams of the '80 and 90's.  He scored 2,544 points over that 25 year career.

-Terrell Davis spent his entire career with the Denver Broncos and when he was in the backfield with John Elway the Broncos were a force with which to be reckoned.  When the Broncos won Super Bowl 32 Davis was named the MVP as he scored the winning touchdown with less than two minutes left to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-24.

-Kenny Easley played at Safety for the Seattle Seahawks from the early to mid 80's  I only saw him on television since the Seahawks were still in the AFC at that time and the team I followed at Busch Stadium II, was the old St. Louis Cardinals before their move to Phoenix.  I remember Easley as quick and a hard hitter.  What surprised me was how long it took him to get to the Hall of Fame.

-Jerry Jones, who bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and still owns them today, was never one of my favorites.  When he fired longtime Dallas legend Tom Landry I thought Jones was an ego maniac more interested in promoting himself than helping the Cowboys win.  What I didn't know at the time was he would hire his friend Jimmy Johnson and with Johnson's sills the Cowboys would win three Super Bowls in the mid '90s.  Jones also should be recognized for building a one billion dollar stadium with private funding.

-Jason Taylor was a quick strong defensive end whom I mainly remember from the Miami Dolphins. I never saw him play in person in St. Louis even when he played for the Redskins.  Taylor made six pro bowls and was a first year inductee into the Hall of Fame.

-LaDainian Tomlinson to me was the face of the San Diego Chargers.  I remember watching him play in college for TCU and knew he would be good in the pros.  And he was.  In 2006 Tomlinson rushed for 28 touchdowns and scored three more on pass receptions.  Tomlinson was named to the All Decade team by the NFL for the 2000's.  It's a shame he never got to play in a Super Bowl.

-Kurt Warner as a member of the St. Louis Rams became one of my favorite players and I count myself fortunate to have seen him play many a game for the Rams in their Super Bowl seasons of 1999 and 2001.  To be honest I never thought St. Louis would win a Super Bowl after they lost the Cardinals in 1987.  But, little did we know at that time a young man by the name of Warner would lead them to victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl 34.  You've probably heard the story of rising from grocery store stock clerk to pro quarterback so I won't re-visit that, but if a Hollywood screen writer had written it, the story would have been dismissed as unbelievable.  Warner quarterbacked "The Greatest Show on Turf" and with his talented offensive teammates, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt along with the coaching of Dick Vermeil and "Mad Mike" Martz, those teams re-wrote the offensive record books.  Warner, became a role model in St. Louis and he lived his Christian faith and gave back and continues to give to the St. Louis community today while living in Arizona.

The induction ceremony on Saturday night lasted four and a half hours and the speeches were long. I am not going to include videos for all seven of the inductees.  But, because Warner is one of my favorites players I am including the link to his speech.  The NFL Hall of Fame does not permit the video to be embedded into this blog so here again is the link to watch it on YouTube.  It lasts about a half hour but I loved every minute of it.  I hope you enjoy it as well.

Photo courtesy of azcardinals.com

Congratulations Orlando Pace!

Orlando Pace has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The induction took place last night at the Hall in Canton, Ohio.

"Big O" who played 12 years with the Rams was the top pick in the 1997 draft.  I count myself fortunate that I got to see Pace play in person on many occasions and watched him pancake opponents who had the misfortune of having to line up across from him.  Pace was an Offensive Left Tackle and at that position protected Quarterback Kurt Warner and his blind side.  In addition to blocking for Warner, Pace also opened huge holes in the line for Marshall Faulk, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame five years ago.  Pace led the Rams to a win in Super Bowl 34 in late January 2000.  The team was nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Turf" as it racked up yardage at will and set numerous yardage and passing records.  Pace played a big role in anchoring that offensive line.  The team was coached by Dick Vermeil who is still beloved by St. Louis sports fans.

If you would like to see Orlando Pace's induction speech into the hall you may click on this link.

Pace is the second member of the Rams Super Bowl teams to enter the Hall of Fame.  Next year Warner should join him and the year after that Isaac Bruce should also be elected into the Hall.

Those Rams provided a lot of excitement on Sunday afternoons.  The fact they won a Super Bowl as the Saint Louis Rams is something I will never forget.  Congratulations #76 Orlando Pace!