COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE 1 Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 07/31/17 #PFHOF17 Contact: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622 2017 HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT WEEK POWERED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS WORLD-CLASS CELEBRATION TO KICK OFF NFL’S 98 TH SEASON Attention Media - The following information is being provided to present a broad picture of the major events and personalities that will be involved with the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls from Wednesday, Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 6. MEDIA WEBSITE NOTE: Media covering the 2017 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls in Canton are strongly encouraged to reference the Hall’s media site that will be regularly updated to include the most recent media schedule and other pertinent information and materials. ProFootballHOF.com/media (log-in: canton) 2017 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEDIA GUIDE The 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Media Guide is available as a PDF on the Hall’s media site.
Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 07/31/17 #PFHOF17 Contact: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622
2017 HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT WEEK POWERED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS
WORLD-CLASS CELEBRATION TO KICK OFF NFL’S 98TH SEASON
Attention Media - The following information is being provided to present a broad picture of the major events and personalities that will be involved with the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls from Wednesday, Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 6. MEDIA WEBSITE NOTE: Media covering the 2017 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls in Canton are strongly encouraged to reference the Hall’s media site that will be regularly updated to include the most recent media schedule and other pertinent information and materials. ProFootballHOF.com/media (log-in: canton) 2017 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEDIA GUIDE The 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Media Guide is available as a PDF on the Hall’s media site.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Credential Pick-Up ................................................................................................. 4 Media Center ........................................................................................................ 4 Enshrinement Headquarters ................................................................................... 4 Pro Football Hall of Fame during Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls Hours for the Hall of Fame & Mall of Fame .................................................... 5 Priority Pass ................................................................................................ 5 New Attractions at the Hall .......................................................................... 5 HOF Fun Fest & Bud Light Beer Fest ............................................................. 5 Class of 2017 Morten Andersen ......................................................................................... 7 Terrell Davis ............................................................................................... 9 Kenny Easley ............................................................................................ 11 Jerry Jones ............................................................................................... 12 Jason Taylor ............................................................................................. 14 LaDainian Tomlinson ................................................................................. 16 Kurt Warner .............................................................................................. 18 Honor Roll of Colleges Grows ..................................................................... 19 Presenters for the Class of 2017 ........................................................................... 20 Media Availability During Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls ........... 21 NFL’s “Play Football Month” Kicks Off in Canton ..................................................... 22 Gold Jackets Give Back to Their “Second Home” .................................................... 22 “Reeding Room” .................................................................................................. 23 National Anthems ................................................................................................ 23 Record Turnout of Gold Jackets ............................................................................ 24 Gold Jackets Group Photo on Hall’s Front Steps ..................................................... 24 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Dedication ...................................................... 24 Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village Logo ........................................................... 24 Award Winners Honored Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award: David Hill ........................................... 25 The Dick McCann Memorial Award: Ed Werder ............................................ 26 Dave Boss Award of Excellence: Chaz Palla ................................................. 27 Coverage of the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls ................ 27 NFL Network ............................................................................................. 28 ESPN ........................................................................................................ 28 NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” crew coming to Canton ................................. 29 Westwood One Radio ................................................................................ 29 Hall of Fame Productions ........................................................................... 29 Emcees ........................................................................................................... 30
2017 Hall of Fame Game: Cardinals vs. Cowboys ................................................... 30 Game Ball Delivery & Pregame ................................................................... 30 NASA Presentation of 32 Unique Jerseys ..................................................... 31 Class of 2017 Members who have Played in the Hall of Fame Game .............. 31 Lee Greenwood to Perform a “Salute to Service” ......................................... 31
CREDENTIAL PICK-UP Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls credentials must be picked up at the Credential Center located at Lehman Middle School (1400 Broad Ave NW, Canton, OH 44708). NOTE: This is a different location than the media center.
Credential Pick-Up Hours Wednesday, Aug. 2 – 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 – 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 – 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 – 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
MEDIA CENTER A media center staffed by personnel from the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be located inside McKinley High School that is approximately 400 yards from the Hall of Fame. Please enter the Media Center through Door C (on south side of the high school). The Media Center will be open from Wednesday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 5. Please present your enshrinement credential to gain entrance to the Media Center.
Media Center Phone Number: (330) 588-3568 Hours: (Subject to change) Wednesday, Aug. 2 – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 – 9 a.m. to post-Game Friday, Aug. 4 – 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 – 9:00 a.m. to post-Enshrinement
ENSHRINEMENT HEADQUARTERS A full guide to the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls can be found on the Hall’s website. Enshrinement Headquarters is a great resource for fans and the media to quickly access information about all of the week’s events, festivities and details. http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/
HOURS FOR THE HALL OF FAME & MALL OF FAME The Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum will operate under normal summer hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The Mall of Fame, including a spectacular Hall of Fame merchandise tent, is located in the Hall’s main parking lot and offers a wide variety of products related to the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, the Hall of Fame, and NFL gear. Mall of Fame & Official Hall of Fame Merchandise Tent Hours Thursday, Aug. 3 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 – Noon to 7 p.m. PRIORITY PASS During Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, guests will have the option of buying a priority pass that allows them expedited access into the Museum, the Hall of Fame Gallery, “A Game for Life” immersive holographic experience, and the Super Bowl Theater – all of which will be in high demand. The priority passes will be available Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 6 and each pass will be day specific. The pass will allow the pass holder priority, one-time entrance during the museum’s hours to each of the above-mentioned attractions. Priority passes are $99 per day and are available for purchase online in advance at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/5080653/priority-pass-enshrinement-week-canton-pro-football-hall-of-fame-museum-admission?country=US&language=en. Museum Admission must be purchased separately. HOF FUN FEST & BUD LIGHT BEER FEST The third annual HOF Fun Fest & Bud Light Beer Fest will be held on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus in conjunction with Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. HOF Fun Fest is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 6. The Fun Fest stage will be hosted once again by Megan McCrea from Q92 WDJQ along with DJSC – Dallas Cowboys DJ – returning to entertain fans with the latest hits. Live entertainment will include not only DJSC, but also DJ HAZMAT, the Six-String Soldiers, White Buffalo Woman, Wesley Bright and the Honeytones, Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive, The Got It Got It Need It, and Karri Fedor & Kerosene. There will be multiple appearances from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team (break dancers) and Q Spirit Squad (cheerleaders) will also provide live entertainment for guests. Inflatables will be available for children of all ages and are provided by FUN Services out of Akron, Ohio.
There will be numerous other games, contests and give-a-ways every day. In addition, the HOF Fun Fest will host Chalk Talks with Gold Jackets (a term for living Hall of Famers) on Saturday. Bud Light Beer Fest also takes place on the Hall of Fame’s campus adjacent to the HOF Fun Fest and the Mall of Fame shopping extravaganza. The exclusive, limited addition Class of 2017 Beer stein is only available at the Bud Light Beer Fest on-campus. There will be a large selection of draft beers and a Gervasi wine station featured. New this year, SnoBar frozen alcoholic popsicles will be on sale for a great way to beat the heat. Fun Fest & Beer Fest Hours:
§ Thursday, August 3 – Noon to 7:00 p.m. § Friday, August 4 – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. § Saturday, August 5 – Noon to 6:00 p.m. § Sunday, August 6 – Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Parking will be available at the Stark County Fairgrounds on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Parking at the Fairgrounds is $10.00 per car with a $3.00 charge per person to ride the Hall of Fame Shuttle. There will not be any parking available at the Stark County Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 4. However, free parking is available at 1700 Blake Avenue, near the Hall of Fame Campus. For more, please visit: http://www.profootballhof.com/connect/visitor-parking-and-traffic/. More information on HOF Fun Fest, Bud Light Beer Fest and Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls can be found at http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/.
CLASS OF 2017 The addition of the seven members of the Class of 2017 will bring the number of professional football greats who have earned the sport’s highest honor to 310 members. Full bios, stats, and clippings for the Class of 2017 can be found at www.ProFootballHOF.com/media (log-in: canton)
EXCLUSIVE FRATERNITY It is extraordinarily difficult to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There was an incredibly large number of possible combinations for the Class of 2017 when the 48-person Selection Committee met in Houston on the eve of Super Bowl LI. The exact number of possibilities on “Selection Saturday” for a class of four, five, six, seven, or eight was an astonishing 38,564.
SELECTION PROCESS TIMELINE FOR THE CLASS OF 2017
• Aug. 15, 2016 – Kenny Easley was selected as the Finalist in the Senior Category. The Senior Committee reviews the qualifications of those players whose active careers have been completed for at least 25 years.
• Aug. 16, 2016 – Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue were selected as Finalists in the Contributors Category. The Hall of Fame’s Contributor Committee considers persons who made outstanding contributions to professional football in capacities other than playing or coaching.
was a tie for the 25th position.) • Jan. 3, 2017 – 15 Modern-Era Finalists named. • Feb. 4, 2017 – The Class of 2017 elected during the annual selection
meeting held in Houston, site of Super Bowl LI.
CAPSULE BIOS MORTEN ANDERSEN Kicker 6-2, 218 • Michigan State • 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings 25 seasons, 382 games •Selected by Saints in 4th round (86th player overall) of 1982 draft • Began career in strike-shortened 1982 season • Scored more than 90 points in 22 seasons • Topped 100-point total 14 times in career • First 100-plus season, 1985, connected on 31 of 35 field goals, 27 extra point conversions, for 120 points, earning first of seven Pro Bowl selections • Also named All-Pro five times • After 13 years with Saints and ranking as team’s all-time leading scorer, joined the Falcons in 1995 • Became Falcons career scoring leader • Spectacular 1995 season, scored a career-high
122 points, including then NFL-record for most 50-yard field goals in season (8) • Dec. 10, 1995, became first kicker to convert three field goals of 50 yards or longer in single game • Set NFL records for career points (2,544), most field goals (565), games played (382) • His 40 field goals of 50-plus yards most in NFL history at retirement • Named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and 1990s) • Converted 565 of 709 field goal attempts, 849 of 859 point-after-attempts • Led NFL in field goals, 1987 • Led NFC in scoring, 1992 and topped all conference kickers in most field goals in 1985, 1987, and 1995 • Born August 19, 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 5th • Years as Finalist: 4 (2014-17) • Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame: (3) – MORTEN ANDERSEN, Claude
Humphrey, Deion Sanders • New Orleans Saints in the Hall of Fame: (4) – MORTEN ANDERSEN, Jim Finks,
Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf • Kickers in the Hall of Fame: (2) – MORTEN ANDERSEN, Jan Stenerud (also
George Blanda, QB/K; Lou Groza, T/K)
Quotes • "I remember watching him for many years growing up thinking that, 'This guy's
the best.' Then finally getting to play against him or be on the same field, I was like, 'Wow this is awesome.'" -Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts kicker
• “Sports has a beautiful way of allowing you into a group of guys and just being accepted because that’s the common denominator that we’re doing something together here, we’re a part of a team. I think football really helped me that way, and kicking helped me that way.” -Morten Andersen, Class of 2017
• “Will comes to the forefront when your back is against the wall.” -Morten
Andersen, Class of 2017
• “Morten is one of the greatest players in our team’s history and arguably the best kicker in NFL history...The reliability and excellence that he provided for us at the kicker position during his tenure with the Saints has been unmatched.” -Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints owner
• “Everyone knows Morten is the best kicker of all-time and the National Football League’s all-time leading scorer. But the best thing about Morten was when he had to make a clutch kick to win a game, he was outstanding. When the game was on the line and he had to go in there and make that kick for the Saints to win the game, he was going to make it. He was the best there is when the game was on the line.” -Jim Mora, former NFL head coach
• “He’s easily the best kicker I have played with or played against... No matter what team he was on, or I was on, you always knew that if it came down to Morten making a kick at the end of the game, it was most likely going through the uprights.” -Willie Roaf, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2012
• “Without question, Morten was one of the hardest-working football players I ever coached and that was unusual because he was a kicker. He was always out there, whether it was after we finished our pre-game routine or at practice. Most kickers sit and watch practice, but Morten would continue to work to be the best he could be. I was fortunate that, at the end of my career, I had him as a kicker.” -Dan Reeves, former NFL head coach
TERRELL DAVIS Running Back • 5-11, 206 • Long Beach State, Georgia • 1995-2001 Denver Broncos 7 seasons, 78 games • Selected by Broncos in the sixth round, (196th player overall) of 1995 NFL Draft • Made big splash when he earned starting tailback position as rookie • Despite missing final two games of rookie campaign with hamstring tear, eclipsed 1,000-yard mark and added career-high 49 receptions for 367 yards • In second year, gained 1,538 yards rushing, named Offensive Player of the Year • Rushed for 1,750 yards and league-high 15 TDs in 1997 • In 1998 became fourth runner in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in season (2,008) and led NFL with 21 rushing TDs en route to Denver’s second straight Super Bowl title • Set NFL playoff record seven straight 100-yard performances spanning 1997-98 postseasons • Earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXII after rushing 157 yards, 3 TDs in victory over Packers • Scored 8 rushing touchdowns in ’97 playoff run • In 1998 playoffs, rushed for franchise postseason-record 199 yards against Dolphins in divisional playoff, 167 yards vs. Jets in the championship and 102 yards in Super Bowl XXXIII victory over Falcons • Devastating knee injury limited him to just 17 games over his final three seasons • Three-time All-Pro selection • Rushed for 7,607 yards, 60 TDs in just 78 career games • Added additional 1,280 yards on 169 career catches and five TD receptions • Selected to three Pro Bowls and named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s • Born October 28, 1972 in San Diego California. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 11th • Years as Finalist: (3) – 2015-17 • Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame: (5) – TERRELL DAVIS, John Elway, Floyd
Little, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman • Running Backs in the Hall of Fame: (32) – Marcus Allen, Jerome Bettis, Jim
Brown, Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, TERRELL DAVIS, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Marshall Faulk, Frank Gifford, Franco Harris, Paul Hornung, John Henry Johnson, Leroy Kelly, Floyd Little, Curtis Martin, Ollie Matson, Hugh McElhenny, Lenny Moore, Marion Motley, Walter Payton, Joe Perry, John Riggins, Barry
Sanders, Gale Sayers, O.J. Simpson, Emmitt Smith, Jim Taylor, Thurman Thomas, LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON, Charley Trippi, Doak Walker
Quotes • “He was the ultimate pro. He played just as hard and just as nasty without the
ball in his hand as he did with the ball. He was consistent. He was right there when it comes down to being the toughest player I’ve ever coached.” -Bobby Turner, Denver Broncos running back coach from 1995-2009
• “You can be the best person in the league but if you don't win championships, something's missing.” -Terrell Davis, Class of 2017
• “The more you put into football, you train, you prepare, the harder you play, then the better the results are going to be and that is true in life…you can’t think you’re going to be great at anything without putting work into it.” -Terrell Davis, Class of 2017
• “My career would not have ended the way it did without TD, the Denver Broncos would not have done what we did without TD He changed things. We had a championship team, we won two world championships, we did the things you have to do, approached the game the way you need to in order to win a championship. But I believe we wouldn’t have taken the final step without TD’’ -John Elway, Davis’ teammate with the Denver Broncos from 1995-98
• “If you look at what he did in the biggest games, in the playoffs, he never had
an off game.” -Shannon Sharpe, Davis’ teammate with the Denver Broncos from 1995-99
• “I know it was shorter but TD’s career, that block of time, it was awesome...I was a guy who was drafted higher than him and I’m looking at him and saying to myself: ‘Why can’t I do this? Why am I not doing this? What am I doing wrong?’ It helped me with my career.” -Marshall Faulk, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2011
• "You've got to understand, from the moment I met him this kid he was as humble as ever. He's just a good, humble person, and you know what, I fell in love with the kid. He's always been an interesting person in the sense of you could just talk to him about life and he always wanted to know how he could get better and how to be successful. TD was always thirsty for knowledge on the field and off the field." -Neil Schwartz, Davis’ agent and friend
• “You get guys made up like Terrell Davis and you win championships...He played great during the regular season, but when he went to the playoffs, that’s when he separated himself.” -Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos head coach from 1995-2008
KENNY EASLEY Safety • 6-3, 206 • UCLA • 1981-87 Seattle Seahawks 7 seasons, 89 games • Drafted as fourth player overall by Seahawks in 1981 NFL Draft • Three-time consensus All-America at UCLA • Made immediate impact in Seattle with his intimidating style on defense • Developed reputation as punishing tackler • Picked as Defensive Rookie of the Year after sensational first season in which he recorded 3 interceptions for 155 yards and 1 TD (82-yarder vs. Browns), 1981 • Defensive leader of Seahawks team that advanced to franchise’s first-ever AFC championship game, 1983 • Registered 7 interceptions for 106 yards to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors, 1983 • Named Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 after recording league-high and career-best 10 interceptions including pair of pick-sixes (25 yards vs. Patriots; 58 yards vs. Chiefs) • All-Pro four straight seasons, 1982-85 • Named to five Pro Bowls (1983-86, 1988) • Member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1980s • Intercepted multiple passes in each of seven NFL seasons • Led team in interceptions four times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1987) • Career stats: 32 interceptions, 538 yards and 3 TDs • Also had 8 career sacks and returned 26 punts for 302 yards • Born January 15, 1959 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 25 • Years as Finalist: 1 (2017) • Seattle Seahawks in the Hall of Fame: (4) – KENNY EASLEY, Walter Jones,
Cortez Kennedy, Steve Largent • Safeties in the Hall of Fame: (12) – Jack Christiansen, KENNY EASLEY, Ken
Houston, Paul Krause, Yale Lary, Ronnie Lott (also CB), Mel Renfro (also CB), Emlen Tunnell, Aeneas Williams (also CB), Larry Wilson, Willie Wood, Rod Woodson (also CB)
Quotes
• "He doesn’t back down from anything. He always wants the contact, he’s going to make sure you feel him, make sure you know he’s there. He’s a ballhawk. I’ve seen him covering ground, go get the ball, and when he gets the ball he’s trying to score. He’s definitely a very athletic safety from back in the day.” -Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks strong safety
• “From the time Kenny came into the league, he was one of the top one or two safeties in the league...He came in with a splash, and he brought the whole package.” -Nolan Cromwell, former All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety for the Los Angeles Rams
• “Having played against Kenny I can tell you I always thought of him as a great
pain, and that’s a compliment from a quarterback...He was very smart. He had great range. Great instincts. He made plays. Big hitter. Big safety and all those things. I knew at the time that he was somebody I had to concern myself with if
I was going to be throwing the ball over the middle or even down the sidelines because of his range.” -Dan Fouts, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1993
• "In my pursuit at trying to be the best, I always felt like I was shooting up to his level because he was the standard...Kenny's skills transcended the game...He was a good as there ever was and I mean that right to this day." -Ronnie Lott, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2000
• "I have battles to fight, and I continue to fight them with the same will and
fortitude that I fought with on the football field." -Kenny Easley, Class of 2017
• "The thing I missed most (about the game) … Even to this day, some 30 years later, I miss that relationships with my fellow warriors." -Kenny Easley, Class of 2017
• “He was an outstanding three-time All American player...Big, fast, physical,
athletic. When you saw him play for Seattle you knew you were watching a Hall of Fame player, without doubt." -Ron Wolf, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015
• “No disrespect to my other teammates, but Kenny might have been one of the
better athletes and football players overall that I ever played with...He was smart, physical, and intense. He was the kind of guy you wanted on your team.” -Dave Krieg, Easley’s teammate with the Seattle Seahawks from 1981-87
JERRY JONES Owner, President & General Manager • Arkansas • 1989-Present Dallas Cowboys Purchased Cowboys in 1989 and quickly restored winning tradition to franchise • Has led Cowboys to unprecedented success on and off the field • Leadership in sports marketing and promotion has influenced landscape of NFL and America’s sports culture • Became first owner in league history to win three Super Bowls in first seven years of ownership • Cowboys made seven playoff appearances, six division titles and wins in Super Bowls XXVII, XVIII and XXX in Jones’ first decade of owning team • Dallas has advanced to postseason 13 times under Jones • Cowboys have posted 10 wins in a season 12 times during Jones era • Led franchise to NFC Eastern Division titles five straight seasons, 1992-96 • Also won NFC East crowns in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2016 • Vision was driving influence in the creation and development of AT&T stadium, “crown jewel” of all sports venues • Continues to provide leadership for NFL in areas of marketing, sponsorship, television, stadium management, labor negotiations and television • Leadership has shaped and enhanced NFL’s standing as world’s premiere sports league • Co-captain of national champion Arkansas Razorbacks, 1964 •Born October 13, 1942 in Los Angeles, California.
Quick Facts • Years of Eligibility: n/a (Contributors do not have to be retired to be eligible for
the Hall of Fame) • Years as Finalist: 1 (2017) • Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame: (16) – Troy Aikman, Larry Allen, Tony
Dorsett, Charles Haley, Bob Hayes, Michael Irvin, JERRY JONES, Tom Landry, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Deion Sanders, Tex Schramm, Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Randy White, Rayfield Wright
• Contributors in the Hall of Fame: (23) – Bert Bell, Charles Bidwill, Joe Carr, Al Davis, Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Jim Finks, George Halas (also coach), Lamar Hunt, JERRY JONES, Curly Lambeau (also coach), Tim Mara, Wellington Mara, George Preston Marshall, Bill Polian, Hugh “Shorty” Ray, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney, Dan Rooney, Pete Rozelle, Ed Sabol, Tex Schramm, Ralph Wilson, Jr., Ron Wolf
Quotes
• “My most important thing is that I don’t think I’ve worked a day since I bought the Dallas Cowboys. It has absolutely been a labor of love every morning and I am more excited about the future, the future about the league, the future of the Cowboys, my future. I’m more excited today than in ‘89 when I became involved.” -Jerry Jones, Class of 2017
• “The conversations by everybody, coaches and players alike, is that we love working for him because the pedal is always down. He does what he believes is necessary to win. He’s a very inspirational guy. He sets the standards high. He’s the driving force of the organization and we have a great appreciation for him. His recognition as a Hall of Famer is so deserving. His impact on the National Football League is significant. He changed the league in so many ways.” -Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys head coach
• “He’s done so many things for our game not only for the Dallas Cowboys...If you began to put together a highlight and say ‘Jerry,’ after whatever topic, we would say Jerry a lot. The network, Jerry. Growing the game, Jerry. That’s how he thinks.” -Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints head coach
• “Jerry has always been happy to share his thoughts, but I would say he does a very good job observing and making sure everybody has a chance to speak their minds...but when he as a chance to make a point he does it very effectively.” -Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs Chairman & CEO
• "I live a life where it is just absolutely a high relative to do what I do and being with the Cowboys...It hardly seems fair to also get to sit here and maybe get a pat on the back through the Hall of Fame because I have such respect. I know as well as anybody that has ever been a fan of this game, I know the caliber of people that are in the Hall of Fame." -Jerry Jones, Class of 2017
• “Nobody ever got to the top trying to have it on his best day. Football shows you how to do it when it’s not your best day.” -Jerry Jones, Class of 2017
• "He's meant a lot to our game. The prosperity of our league in large part, if you had to single one person, you would single Jerry Jones as the guy who's responsible." -Troy Aikman, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2006
• “I don’t think anybody can imagine how much he has grown this game. What a remarkable feeling. For all of us players, past and current, he has really been like a father figure to me not only football but in business and his approach.” -Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys tight end
• “From the business side of it, I think if you got to visit with league owners or administrators, the impact he’s had over the last 20-odd-some years, whether it’s the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the TV contracts, just the shear marketing of the National Football League, and this game is as good as it’s ever been, it’s as profitable as it’s ever been, and Jerry Jones has had an impact on that in terms of the business side of this business.” -Brian Billick, former Baltimore Ravens head coach
JASON TAYLOR Defensive End • 6-6, 260 • Akron • 1997-2007, 2009, 2011 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Washington Redskins, 2010 New York Jets 15 seasons, 233 games • Drafted in 3rd round (73rd overall) by Dolphins in 1997 NFL Draft • Registered double-digit sack total in a season six times over an eight-year span (2000-07) • Earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Honors in 2006 after recording 13.5 sacks, two interceptions returned for TDs (20 yards vs. Bears and 51 yards vs. Vikings), 11 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 62 tackles • Returned fumble career-long and team-record 85 yards for TD vs. Broncos, Sept. 11, 2005 • Led NFL with career-high 18.5 sacks, 2002 • Recorded more sacks than any player in NFL from 2000-2011 • Career statistics: 139.5 sacks; 8 interceptions for 110 yards and 3 TDs; league record-tying 29 opponents’ fumbles recovered; NFL record 6 TDs on fumble recoveries; and 3 safeties (two with Dolphins, one as a member of Jets) • Voted to six Pro Bowls • Named first-team All-Pro in 2000, 2002 and 2006 … All-AFC four times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006) • Picked as Dolphins Most Valuable Player four times • Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s • Born September 1, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 1 • Years as Finalist: 1 • Miami Dolphins in the Hall of Fame: (10) – Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Bob
Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Dan Marino, Don Shula, Dwight Stephenson, JASON TAYLOR, Paul Warfield
• Defensive Ends in the Hall of Fame: (21) – Doug Atkins, Elvin Bethea, Willie Davis, Fred Dean, Richard Dent, Chris Doleman (also LB), Carl Eller, Len Ford, Charles Haley (also LB), Dan Hampton (also DT), Claude Humphrey, Deacon Jones, Howie Long, Gino Marchetti, Andy Robustelli, Lee Roy Selmon, Bruce Smith, Michael Strahan, JASON TAYLOR, Reggie White, Jack Youngblood
Quotes • “He has been an outstanding ambassador for his sport, for the Dolphins, and for
all of South Florida. His accomplishments on the field made him one of the greatest players in Dolphins history, but his enduring example as a role model to so many people adds a distinctive luster to that legacy.” -Stephen Ross, Miami Dolphins owner
• "Jason caught my eye when he was outstanding in the Senior Bowl. A lot of teams thought he was undersized and that's why we were able to get him in the 3rd round...little did any of us realize just how great a player he would become.” -Jimmy Johnson, Taylor’s enshrinement presenter and Miami Dolphins head coach from 1996-99
• “I never saw anyone disrupt an offense like Jason, and I never saw anyone more competitive. He was a great teammate who demanded the most out of everyone he played with and made each of them a better player. That’s truly the mark of a Hall of Famer.” -Zach Thomas, Taylor’s teammate with the Miami Dolphins from 1997-2007
• “The games against Jason are some of my most (well, maybe least) memorable. He is one of the greatest opponents I’ve ever faced, having had the “pleasure” of looking across the line and seeing him on the opposite side of the ball, not once, but twice each season for a decade. While I entered the league with a healthy respect for Jason and the incredibly talented Miami defense he led, my admiration for him as a player and a person only continued to grow with each play; each game; each season.” -Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback
• “I always had the fire burning inside to push myself and be the best. Sometimes I frustrate myself, and that can be detrimental to me but that is the way I’ve always been. At the end of the day, you have to have it inside of you. If you don’t have it inside of you, then no one can push you further than you push yourself.” -Jason Taylor, Class of 2017
• “It was just demoralizing as an offensive player whenever he'd get the sack, then the strip, the recovery, and then you had to worry about him running like a deer to the end zone after that. It was like he could hit the trifecta on any play. But that was the threat he brought to every game.” -Jonathan Ogden, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2013
• “Jason Taylor was a one-of-a-kind defensive player. We played against him in the AFC East my first four years. I saw him twice a year and he was a guy that we truly game-planned for because we learned if we didn't, he made you pay.” -Peyton Manning, former two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON Running Back • 5-10, 221 • Texas Christian • 2001-09 San Diego Chargers, 2010-11 New York Jets 11 seasons, 170 games • Selected by Chargers in 1st round (5th player overall) of 2001 NFL Draft • Sensational rookie season with 1,236 yards and 10 TD rushing plus 59 receptions for 367 yards • Eclipsed 1,600-yard mark in back-to-back seasons, 2002-03 • Rushed for 1,000 yards in each of first eight NFL seasons • Scored 10 or more rushing TDs each of nine seasons with Chargers • Captured back-to-back rushing titles, 2006-07 • Named NFL’s 2006 Most Valuable Player with leading-leading and career-high 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns rushing in addition to 56 catches for 508 yards and 3 TDs to set NFL record with 31 touchdowns and 186 points in a season • Hauled in 100 receptions in 2003 • Set NFL record with rushing touchdown in 18 straight games (2004-05) • All-Pro four straight seasons (2004-07) • Named Chargers Most Valuable Player five times • Voted to five Pro Bowls over six-season span • Rushed for 13,684 career yards on 3,174 carries and scored 145 rushing touchdowns • Added 4,772 yards on 624 catches and 17 TD receptions • Also threw 7 TD passes • Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of 2000s • Born June 23, 1979 in Rosebud, Texas. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 1 • Years as Finalist: 1 • Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers in the Hall of Fame: (9) – Lance Alworth, Fred
Dean, Dan Fouts, Sid Gillman, Charlie Joiner, Ron Mix, Junior Seau, LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON, Kellen Winslow
• Running Backs in the Hall of Fame: (32) – Marcus Allen, Jerome Bettis, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, TERRELL DAVIS, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Marshall Faulk, Frank Gifford, Franco Harris, Paul Hornung, John Henry Johnson, Leroy Kelly, Floyd Little, Curtis Martin, Ollie Matson, Hugh McElhenny, Lenny Moore, Marion Motley, Walter Payton, Joe Perry, John Riggins, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers, O.J. Simpson, Emmitt Smith, Jim Taylor, Thurman Thomas, LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON, Charley Trippi, Doak Walker
Quotes
• “As an offensive lineman – and you could probably include tight ends and fullbacks in that equation – you were really inspired to get your block and stay on your block because you knew that his ability to break off a long run and finish off a game at moment’s notice was right there in the power that LaDainian
Tomlinson held in his feet.” -Nick Hardwick, Tomlinson’s teammate with the San Diego Chargers from 2004-09
• “Every time I touch the ball, I think I'm going to go all the way. I think I'm going to score a touchdown. I'm the runner I am because I think that I'm going to go all the way every single time I touch the ball.” -LaDainian Tomlinson, Class of 2017
• “I believe in working hard all the time. I have faith that working hard is going to get me where I want to go.” -LaDainian Tomlinson, Class of 2017
• "It was almost impossible to defend him ... Because he had hands like a receiver,
he had feet like a ballet dancer and had a heart like a lion – any time that you have all of those things, you just never know what you are going to get...What made him the hardest thing to deal with was that he always kept a calm demeanor. You never could rattle him. He always stayed true to himself." -Ray Lewis, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker
• "He made everyone around him better. He was a phenomenal leader. When LT spoke, everybody listened. And he backed it up with his actions, more so than anything he could ever say." -Drew Brees, Tomlinson’s teammate with the San Diego Chargers from 2001-05
• "People and players like LaDainian Tomlinson don't come around very often, if at all...His humility and work ethic made it clear why he will be remembered as one of the game's best players.” -Woody Johnson, New York Jets chairman and CEO
• "He inspired me because of the respect he had around the league. I think he's a
great human being, and that's one of the things I really respected about him. That's how I've gone about doing things. No matter how much leeway you have, you still work the same, just like if you're a rookie. Ten years in, he was still working harder than everybody else around him." -Bilal Powell, Tomlinson’s teammate with the New York Jets in 2011
• “LaDainian has had a tremendous impact on the league, not only as a player but also as a person with great character and it shows by the respect his peers have for him and how well known he is to the public. He accomplished many great things as a player, but I don’t know of any player recently who has left the game with as much admiration and respect from his peers as LT enjoys. And that might be an athlete’s most cherished accomplishment.” -Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010
KURT WARNER Quarterback • 6-2, 220 • Northern Iowa • 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals 12 seasons, 124 games • Not drafted in the NFL • Originally signed by and then released by Green Bay Packers in 1994 • Went on to play in Arena Football League with Iowa Barnstormers (1995-97) • Returned to NFL with Rams as free agent and allocated to NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals • Returned to Rams in 1998 • Went on to become a two-time NFL MVP (1999 and 2001) and named Super Bowl XXXIV MVP after leading Rams to victory 23-16 victory over Tennessee Titans • Set Super Bowl record with 414 passing yards • He recorded another MVP season two years later when he guided Rams back to the Super Bowl • His season totals included a league-leading and career-high 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns to post a 101.4 passer rating • Warner made a third trek to the Super Bowl in 2008 season when he led Arizona Cardinals to franchise’s first division title since 1975 and first-ever Super Bowl appearance • First quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards in three Super Bowls • A four-time Pro Bowl choice, led NFL in average gain per attempt, three times • Had highest passer rating and led NFL in TD passes twice • Born June 22, 1971 in Burlington, Iowa. Quick Facts
• Years of Eligibility: 3 • Years as Finalist: 3 (2015-17) • Los Angeles (St. Louis) Rams in the Hall of Fame: (18) – George Allen, Eric
Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Tom Fears, Kevin Greene, Elroy Hirsch, Deacon Jones, Tom Mack, Ollie Matson, Merlin Olsen, Orlando Pace, Dan Reeves, Les Richter, Jackie Slater, Norm Van Brocklin, KURT WARNER, Bob Waterfield, Jack Youngblood
• Arizona (Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix) Cardinals in the Hall of Fame: (13) – Charles Bidwill, Jimmy Conzelman, Dan Dierdorf, John “Paddy” Driscoll, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Ollie Matson, Ernie Nevers, Jackie Smith, Charley Trippi, KURT WARNER, Roger Wehrli, Aeneas Williams, Larry Wilson
• Quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame: (26) – Troy Aikman, George Blanda (also PK), Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, John Elway, Brett Favre, Dan Fouts, Otto Graham, Bob Griese, Sonny Jurgensen, Jim Kelly, Bobby Layne, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Warren Moon, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, Fran Tarkenton, Y.A. Tittle, Johnny Unitas, Norm Van Brocklin, KURT WARNER, Bob Waterfield, Steve Young
Quotes • "Some people think that a guy like Kurt came out of nowhere … But when you
really start to peel back the veil and start to peel the orange, you kind of see the work that he put in, his willingness to not give up on his dream." -Isaac Bruce, Warner’s teammate with the St. Louis Rams from 1998-2003
• "Maybe he wasn't even aware of the talent that he had. I think of a guy with a lot of faith and belief in himself. Not cocky, but confident. Not in awe of his opportunity, and actually played his very first league game as if he played for five years in a row as a starter. He just had tremendous poise. Tremendous poise. He certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. No one ever did what he's done, and no one will ever do it again. Ever." -Dick Vermeil, head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 1997-99
• “What I’ve found is that 99 percent of people went through something like I went though. Moments where people say there is no chance and you only can believe yourself. It happens in football, but outside of football too. That’s why my story resonates with so many people – because that’s what real life is.” -Kurt Warner, Class of 2017
• “If you're willing to put yourself and your dreams on the line, at the very least you'll discover an inner strength you may not have known existed.” -Kurt Warner, Class of 2017
• "I've never seen him nervous. Not on the football field. He might have been, but it never came across to me that he was. I guess, when you're preaching something that could change the outcome of people's lives, it's not like throwing football passes. Kurt takes it as a privilege that he has that opportunity.” -Larry Fitzgerald, Warner’s teammate with the Arizona Cardinals from 2005-09
• "We all learned great lessons from Kurt's humility, dignity and grace. We will forever be thankful for the success he brought us and the unparalleled generosity he has shown the St. Louis community and beyond." -Chip Rosenbloom, former St. Louis Rams Co-Owner and Vice-Chairman
• “Every day and in every possible way Kurt Warner has demonstrated the excellence for which the Hall of Fame stands and we are thrilled to see him take his rightful place among the game's all-time greats.” -Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals President
HONOR ROLL OF COLLEGES GROWS There are 144 colleges and 15 junior colleges represented by Pro Football Hall of Fame Fame members. Three Class of 2017 enshrinees – TERRELL DAVIS, JASON TAYLOR and KURT WARNER – are the first alumni from their alma maters to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Taylor’s “Road to Canton” was just about 20 miles. The Class of 2017 enshrinee is the first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to hail from nearby University of Akron. Davis started his college playing days at Long Beach State until the school dropped its football program and he transferred to Georgia. Warner played at Northern Iowa.
PRESENTERS FOR CLASS OF 2017 The presenters for this year’s class include two wives, a son, high school coach, NFL coach, teammate, and agent/friend.
MORTEN ANDERSEN – Sebastian Andersen, Morten’s son TERRELL DAVIS – Neil Schwartz, Terrell’s agent & friend KENNY EASLEY – Tommy Rhodes, Kenny’s high school coach JERRY JONES – Gene Jones, Jerry’s wife JASON TAYLOR – Jimmy Johnson, Jason’s coach with Dolphins LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON – Lorenzo Neal, LaDainian’s teammate with the Chargers KURT WARNER – Brenda Warner, Kurt’s wife
• Gene Jones and Brenda Warner are just the third and fourth wife of an enshrinee to
serve as a presenter. The others included Deanna Favre for her husband Brett Favre in 2016 and Kim Singletary who presented Mike Singletary for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
• “Any recognition that I may have received throughout our years in the NFL has been the result of a group effort involving all of my family. Gene is the backbone of our family and her influence guides and inspires all of us. She is my closest advisor, my best friend, and it is only fitting that she present me, and represent our entire family, at this very special time.” – Jerry Jones
The following individuals have served the most times as a presenter. 9 – Al Davis 6 – Paul Brown 5 – Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr., Tom Landry, Marv Levy, Don Shula An all-time list of the presenters can be found on page 238 of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Media Guide. Download media guide at www.ProFootballHOF.com/media (log-in: canton).
MEDIA AVAILABILITY DURING ENSHRINEMENT WEEK POWERED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS On Friday, Aug. 4 various individuals, including the Class of 2017, will be made available to the media for interviews. All sessions will take place in the Media Center at McKinley High School. The schedule is tentative and will be continually updated. Please check the Hall’s media site for the latest update on the schedule. (www.ProFootballHOF.com/media; log-in: canton). The scheudle
• 1:15 p.m. – The NBC Sunday Night Football on-air team of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya along with executive producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff will be available to media. An NBC Sunday Night Football display debuts earlier in the day inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame. SNF was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for its record six consecutive TV seasons as primetime television’s #1 show.
• (Tentative) 1:35 p.m. – NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough and
International Space Station Program Manager Kirk Shiremam, who presented 32 unique NFL jerseys to the Hall of Fame’s collection during the Hall of Fame Game, will be available for questions.
• 1:50 p.m. – Chuck Noll Hall of Fame Game for Life Award
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge and US Football President Scott Hallenbeck will share details of the new national award program that will recognize the top youth football program in each of the 50 states.
• 2:30 p.m. – The seven members of the Class of 2017 – MORTEN ANDERSEN,
TERRELL DAVIS, KENNY EASLEY, JERRY JONES, JASON TAYLOR, LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON and KURT WARNER – will be available to the media for interviews.
• 3:15 p.m. – Several returning Hall of Famers will be on hand for interviews. Please check media website for the updated lineup. (www.ProFootballHOF.com/media; log-in: canton)
• 3:45 p.m. – Hall of Fame President David Baker will provide updates regarding the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will also be joined by Kim Metcalf-Kupres, the Chief Marketing Officer of Johnson Controls to address the nearly $800 million Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village under way in Canton.
Note: Any Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls credential may be used to gain entrance to this press conference.
NFL’S “PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH” KICKS OFF IN CANTON Several Hall of Famers will join thousands of children at the annual Play Football “First Play” on Wednesday, Aug. 2 to kick off the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. Later in day, Hall of Famers will participate in a special Skills Camp with area youth athletes. The events also launch the National Football League’s Play Football Month, a nationwide celebration of youth and high school football players. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 18th annual Play Football “First Play” is set for 10 a.m. on Aug. 2. A chain of more than 3,000 children will pass a football along a three-mile route, starting in downtown Canton where the NFL was founded in 1920 to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Six Hall of Famers – ELVIN BETHEA, JOE DeLAMIELLEURE, JAMES LOFTON, RICKEY JACKSON, WARREN MOON, ANDRE REED and RON YARY will participate at the opening ceremony for Play Football “First Play” and join the children along the route. More than 400 athletes will participate in the Play Football Skills Camp scheduled 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The camp will be led by REED, YARY along with MEL BLOUNT, MARSHALL FAULK, WARREN MOON, ORLANDO PACE, JOHN RANDLE and WILL SHIELDS. It will focus on the fundamentals of football as well as the character and values it builds in all who play the game. The Hall of Fame greats will lead football skills and drills alongside coaches and football players from local high schools and universities. The clinic will take place at the new National Youth Football & Sports Complex, part of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $800 million development project of the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus. GOLD JACKETS GIVE BACK TO THEIR “SECOND HOME” Every year when Hall of Famers return to Canton, their second home, for Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls and many give back to the community by visiting local organizations. The football legends visit hospitals, youth centers, veterans and senior centers and inspire so many through their informal “meet and greet” sessions. These visits are all a part of the Hall of Fame Ambassadors program that was started in 2006. The schedule for these community outreach events taking place on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 beginning at 2:15 p.m. are:
• Aultman Hospital: 2600 6th Street SW, Canton, Ohio 44710 (New Bedford Entrance)
o Hall of Famers – MIKE HAYNES o Meet and greet with patients
• VA Clinic: 733 Market Ave S, Canton, Ohio 44702 o Hall of Famers – BILLY SHAW and BOBBY BELL o Meet and greet with patients
• Pathway Caring for Children: 4895 Dressler Road NW, Canton, Ohio 44718 o Hall of Famers – DWIGHT STEPHENSON and RON YARY o Meet and greet with youth
• ICAN Housing for Homeless: 1214 Market Ave., North Canton, Ohio 44714 o Hall of Famers – RICKY JACKSON and CLAUDE HUMPHREY o Meet and greet with families
• SarahCare: 6199 Frank Ave., North Canton, Ohio 44720 o Hall of Famers – BILL POLIAN and TOM MACK o Meet and greet with residents
• Buckeye Council: 2301 13th Street NW, Canton, Ohio 44708 o Hall of Famers – JAMES LOFTON and ROGER WEHRLI o Meet and greet with scouts
• Stark County Library: 715 Market Ave. N, Canton, Ohio 44702 o Hall of Famer – ANDRE REED o Book reading, READ poster photo shoot and meet and greet with families
• Community Drop-In Center: 1492 Cherry Ave. SE Canton, Ohio 44707 o Hall of Famers – FLOYD LITTLE and WILLIE BROWN o Meet and greet with youth
• Altercare of Alliance: 11750 Klinger Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601 o Hall of Famers – JOE DeLAMIELLEURE and ELVIN BETHEA o Meet and greet with residents
On Sunday, Aug. 6, AENEAS WILLIAMS will attend the FCA Prayer Breakfast at Faith Family Church in North Canton from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. WILLIAMS will be giving testimony to middle and high school coaches. “REEDING” ROOM On Wednesday, August 2 at 2 p.m., the Massillon Boys and Girls Club will be unveiling the “Pro Football Hall of Fame Reeding Room” in recognition of Hall of Famer ANDRE REED. There will be a 30-minute Chalk Talk with Reed about the values of the Game and his personal ties to the Boys and Girls Club. Reed will spend time visiting with the children and others in attendance. NATIONAL ANTHEMS This year’s Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls events will begin with very special guests singing the National Anthem for the Hall of Fame Game and the Enshrinement Ceremony. Hall of Fame tight end JACKIE SMITH will sing the National Anthem at the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night. The former Cardinal and tight end had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the Enshrinement Ceremony three
years ago. The anthem to start the Enshrinement Ceremony will be sung by Army Private First Class Steven Powell of the 2nd Command Arms Battalion 135th Infantry Regiment. RECORD TURNOUT OF GOLD JACKETS A record number of Hall of Famers will be represented during the 2017 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The up-to-date list is found on the Hall of Fame’s media website at: (www.ProFootballHOF.com/media; log-in: canton) GOLD JACKETS GROUP PHOTO ON HALL’S FRONT STEPS The Class of 2017 will pose with all of the returning Hall of Famers on the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 4 at 11:15 a.m. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend the photo opportunity at no charge. A reserved section will be in place for media to capture the moment. Any credential issued for the week will allow access to the reserved area. TOM BENSON HALL OF FAME STADIUM DEDICATION The spectacular Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will be officially dedicated during a ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 11 am ET. The Saints owners gifted $10 million to the stadium project and will be on hand to unveil a statue of his likeness. The event also includes the unveiling of the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village logo. The spectacular sports and entertainment complex holds 23,000 and features an NFL caliber press box that also includes world-class hospitality experiences in a variety of settings. • Club seating level featuring 968 gold colored seats are positioned at the first level
of the press box. • VIP Lounge for 50 guests offers a unique space with incredible views of the stadium
and can be configured as a lounge, banquet or dining area. • Luxury suites provide premium seating and great site lines for all stadium events,
as well as feature flat screen TVs and upscale catering. • Sky Level sits atop the press box and features a sprawling terrace overlooking the
entire stadium. The one-of-a-kind experience accommodates up to 250 guests. • Five event terraces in the west end zone offer unique experiences in a casual
outdoor party setting with food and beverage catering. Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium hosts three main events of the annual Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls – the Hall of Fame Game, Enshrinement Ceremony, and the Concert for Legends.
It will be the football home for two local colleges (Malone University and Walsh University) and local high school (McKinley). Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will host the OHSAA State Football Championships. Recently, the venue was awarded the NCAA Division III National Football Championships in 2020 and 2021. The stadium will also host other athletic events including lacrosse and soccer. Built in amphitheater style with a large, permanent built-in stage, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is also an elite concert venue that ranks among the best in the nation due to its unique architecture. JOHNSON CONTROLS HALL OF FAME VILLAGE LOGO Exciting progress is being made every day at Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $800 million mixed-use development of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus, under way in Canton, Ohio. It will be the first-ever sports and entertainment “Smart” City. Ten major components will be integrated through technology to subtlety and seamlessly share the values from the Game – commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence – with guests in a way that will impact their lives. The logo for Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village will be revealed during a special media event on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 11 am in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium that also includes a dedication of the venue. AWARD WINNERS HONORED Three awards will be bestowed during the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. Two lifetime awards will be presented during the Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 5. PETE ROZELLE RADIO-TELEVISION AWARD: DAVID HILL The award has been presented annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1989 to recognize “longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.” Hill, who as the first president of FOX Sports, launched the NFL on FOX in 1994. Born and raised in Australia, Hill worked his way up the ranks from a 17-year-old copy boy at the Daily Telegraph in Sydney to the launching Sky Television (Britain’s first satellite distributed television service) to being appointed by Rupert Murdoch to lead FOX Sports. Hill launched an innovative, fully functional major U.S. television network sports division in just eight months. Over the next 20 years he also directly or indirectly oversaw the launch of several media outlets, including FOX Sports Net, FOXSports.com, Big Ten Network, FOX Sports 1 and others.
Said Rupert Murdoch, Hill’s former boss and Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox, "David Hill re-imagined and re-invigorated the sports television experience for millions of American football fans with his remarkably innovative approach to game and studio production, and this honor by the Pro Football Hall of Fame is extremely well-deserved.” During his tenure at FOX, Hill oversaw tens of thousands of games and events aired by FOX Sports and its affiliated national and regional channels, including six Super Bowls, 14 World Series, five NHL Stanley Cup Finals and the Daytona 500 eight times. He also created and/or served as Executive Producer of countless studio, pregame and postgame shows. Many of the techniques and innovations he introduced upon launching FOX Sports ushered in a modern era of sports television production. The consummate innovator, Hill gave NFL TV coverage a much-needed injection of youth, enthusiasm and energy, and forced all NFL rights holders to quickly follow. The result was an improved television presentation of football that has the league on the cutting-edge in terms of video production for over two decades and counting. A few innovations he conceived or introduced to American sports television viewers through NFL on FOX coverage, include:FoxBox, the on-screen constant-score-and-clock graphic that also made possible real-time score/time updates from games league-wide; the yellow on-screen first down line, the patent for which bears Hill’s name; and FOX NFL SUNDAY, a one-hour pregame show, that has been the most-watched NFL pregame show since its inception in 1994. When Hill stepped down from his position as FOX Sports Chairman in 2015, he started his own production company, Hilly, Inc. The company’s first undertaking was to produce the 88th Oscarsâ which aired in February 2016, receiving major critical acclaim. He is currently co-promoting the U.S. Masters, the first World Series of Darts event hosted on American soil, which takes place at the Tropicana Las Vegas next month. Hill is the first executive to win the Pet Rozelle Radio-Television Award since Roone Arledge in 2001, and it so happens that Hill is a great admirer of Mr. Arledge. Past winners of the Rozelle Radio-TV Award: http://www.profootballhof.com/ed-werder-selected-as-pfwas-2017-dick-mccann-award-winner/ THE DICK MCCANN MEMORIAL AWARD: ED WERDER The Dick McCann Award is given by the Pro Football Writers of America to “a reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage.” Werder, who has covered the NFL for 34 years, including 20 at ESPN, has been selected as the 2017 Dick McCann Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Werder, the 49th McCann Award winner, is the fourth former or current member of ESPN or ESPN.com to receive the honor from the PFWA, joining John Clayton (2007), Len Pasquarelli (2008) and Chris Mortensen (2016). During his time at ESPN from 1998-2017, Werder appeared weekly on NFL Insiders, NFL Live and SportsCenter as an NFL Insider. He also covered games each week of the NFL season and contributed to Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. An annual contributor to ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft and the Super Bowl, Werder originally joined ESPN as a Dallas-based bureau reporter in September 1998. Prior to ESPN, he was the NFL reporter for CNNSI, CNN’s Sports Tonight and CNN’s Sunday NFL Preview, providing weekly NFL game coverage, as well as the NFC Championship games in 1997 and 1998 and Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII. Werder also covered the 1998 Final Four and Major League Baseball’s 1996 National League Championship Series. Past Winners of the McCann Award: http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/mccann-award-winners/ In addition, to the lifetime achievement awards, a prestigious annual award is presented during the Enshrinees’ Roundtable on Sunday, Aug. 6. DAVE BOSS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: CHAZ PALLA The Dave Boss Award of Excellence is given to the winner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Annual Photo Contest. Palla from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review won the 49th Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest with his shot “Ear Full” that was taken on Oct. 16, 2016 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The image depicts Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin passionately voicing his displeasure of an officiating call during the Steelers’ 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. All winning entries in this year’s contest can be found at: http://www.profootballhof.com/photo-contest-2016/
COVERAGE OF THE 2017 ENSHRINEMENT WEEK POWERED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS Hundreds of media outlets are credentialed to cover the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. Among them are the national networks that broadcast from Canton including live broadcast of the Hall of Fame Game, Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner and Enshrinement Ceremony.
NFL NETWORK Coverage of 2017 Enshrinement Ceremony will begin Saturday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. with “Hall of Fame Saturday.” The show will be hosted by Rich Eisen, MARSHALL FAULK, Steve Mariucci and Steve Wyche. The three-hour “Hall of Fame Saturday” includes the following highlights: • The moment when Hall of Fame President David Baker knocked on the
doors of LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, KURT WARNER and TERRELL DAVIS
• LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, KURT WARNER and TERRELL DAVIS look back on their careers
• On-air appearances by EMMITT SMITH and TROY AIKMAN • An in-depth look at the career of JERRY JONES • BRETT FAVRE shares his memories about the Green Bay Packers rookie who
was cut from the practice squad in 1994, KURT WARNER • NFL Network will have 15 hours of live coverage from Canton
beginning Friday, August 4 at 7:00 AM Eastern with Good Morning Football live from Canton. Good Morning Football will also be live for 4 hours on Saturday, August 5 beginning at 7:00 AM Eastern from Canton.
• NFL Network will also air the Gold Jacket Dinner on Friday at 9:00 PM Eastern.
• With the Enshrinement of LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON, KURT WARNER and TERRELL DAVIS, NFL Network doubles its number of Pro Football Hall of Famers to six – more than any other sports network. The three members of the Class of 2017 join Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk.
ESPN ESPN is presenting the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony for the 23rd year. NFL Live’s Trey Wingo will host the telecast on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. ET from Canton, Ohio, with analyst Herm Edwards and senior NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, the 2016 Dick McCann Award for his “long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage.” In addition, legendary ESPN NFL host Chris Berman will emcee the Enshrinement Ceremony for the 18th year. (The Ceremony will re-air in its entirety on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 5 a.m. ET.) Beyond the Enshrinement, ESPN’s weekend coverage will include Jim Trotter’s SportsCenter SC Featured: Jerry Jones special on Fri., Aug. 4, at 9 p.m., offering an all-access look at the Dallas Cowboys owner and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee. ESPN and ESPN2 will also air NFL’s Greatest Games and Super Bowl Highlights specials Saturday afternoon starting at 12 p.m. that showcase the legendary careers of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.
NBC “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” CREW COMING TO CANTONThe team from television’s #1 primetime show, NBC Sunday Night Football, will broadcast the 2017 Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug 3. Al Michaels, who was honored with the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s prestigious Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2013, calls the action alongside Cris Collinsworth. Michele Tafoya will report from the sideline. The game will air on NBC with an 8 p.m. kickoff at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
WESTWOOD ONE RADIO The 2017 Hall of Fame Game will be broadcast nationally on radio by Westwood One. Scott Graham and Hall of Fame wide receiver JAMES LOFTON will call all the action between the Cardinals and the Cowboys on more than 250 stations nationwide, including locally on WRQK in Canton and WKRK-FM in Cleveland. The Westwood One broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM, via the TuneIn Radio app, and through NFL Game Pass, which is available on NFL.com and the NFL Mobile from Verizon app.HALL OF FAME PRODUCTIONS The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s production team, under the leadership of Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer George Veras will produce a record 50 hours of content during the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. Hall of Fame Productions will utilize three camera crews to capture exclusive, behind-the-scenes, content during Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The crews will cover events such as the Gold Jacket Dinner and Enshrinement Ceremony. Among the events that the Hall’s production team will capture include Play Football First Play on Wednesday morning; “Game Changers” event featuring Hall of Fame President David Baker, James Brown of CBS, Class of 2017 enshrinee KURT WARNER and Hall of Fame coach JOE GIBBS on Wednesday evening; pre-game and halftime shows of the Hall of Fame Game featuring Lee Greenwood and the US Army Drill team; and numerous other private events being held during “the best four days of football!;” plus the Gold Jacket Dinner, Enshrinement Ceremony and the Concert for Legends featuring Toby Keith and Kid Rock. The Pro Football Hall of Fame/US Army for Excellence Luncheon will be televised live via Livestream from inside the Hall’s Event Center. The award program feature a roundtable on the Values of the Game with Gold Jackets KELLEN WINSLOW and WILL SHIELDS.
EMCEES Legendary broadcaster Chris Berman will return for the 18th time to emcee the Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 5 in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Berman has served in that role every year since 1999 except in 2009 when he was the presenter for RALPH WILSON, JR. Rich Eisen, host of the Rich Eisen Show and NFL Network anchor, will emcee the Gold Jacket Dinner along with his NFL Network colleague Steve Wyche on Friday, Aug. 4. Wyche will also serve as the host of the entertaining Enshrinees Roundtable on Sunday, Aug. 6. 2017 HALL OF FAME GAME: CARDINALS VS. COWBOYS The Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys will kick off the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The Cowboys and Cardinals will face each other in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8 pm ET in the spectacular new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Cardinals, who played in the first-ever Hall of Fame Game in 1962, return to Canton for the fifth time and the Cowboys will make their sixth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game series. Series Records: Cardinals in the HOF Game (1-2-1) 1962 – vs. New York Giants (T, 21-21) 1974 – vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 21-13) 1986 – vs. New England Patriots (L,16-21) 2012 – vs. New Orleans Saints (L, 10-17) Cowboys in HOF Game (2-3) 1968 – vs. Chicago Bears (L, 24-30) 1979 – vs. Oakland Raiders (L, 13-20) 1999 – vs. Cleveland Browns (L, 17-20 OT) 2010 – vs. Cincinnati Bengals (W, 16-7) 2013 – vs. Miami Dolphins (W, 24-20)
GAME BALL DELIVERY & PREGAME The official Hall of Fame Game ball will be parachuted to midfield courtesy of the Golden Knights. The pregame ceremonies will also include the gauntlet of returning Hall of Famers greeting the Class of 2017, a tribute to Tom Benson, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, 25 U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalists and several of the children who participated in the Play Football “First Play.” The Hall of Fame’s President & CEO David Baker will be doing the coin toss.
NASA PRESENTATION OF 32 UNIQUE NFL JERSEYS The Pro Football Hall of Fame is adding 32 unique NFL jerseys to its permanent collection during a special in-game presentation during this year’s Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough and International Space Station Program Manager Kirk Shiremam will present to Hall of Fame President David Baker and Board of Trustees Chairman Randy Hunt the 32 jerseys that accompanied Kimbrough and fellow NASA Astronaut Peggy Witson aboard the Space Station earlier this year in celebration of Super Bowl LI. Astronaut Witson, who is still aboard the Space Station, will deliver a message to football fans back on earth at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium that includes a salute the Class of 2017.
CLASS OF 2017 MEMBERS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE HALL OF FAME GAME Since its inception in 1962, there have been 154 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who have either played or coached in the Hall of Fame Game. Three members of the Class of 2017 participated in the game, including: MORTEN ANDERSEN, JASON TAYLOR and KURT WARNER. The record for the most Hall of Fame Game appearances by a Hall of Famer is three, held by CHARLIE JOINER, who played 18 seasons in the NFL.
LEE GREENWOOD TO PERFORM A “SALUTE TO THE U.S. ARMY” Country music icon Lee Greenwood will put on a spectacular halftime show at the 2017 Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 3. The show is entitled a “Salute to the U.S. Army” and will include a spectacular performance by the Army Rifle Drill Team introduced by the fife and drum. Greenwood will perform “Proud to be an American” surrounded by the rifle core fife and drum corps, children who participated in Play Football and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
