Canton, Ohio – The glory of the newest Hall of Famers’ achievements was punctuated by a steady stream of tears and a singular chant: “REG-GIE, REG-GIE.”
Though a fair share of the fans sported No. 8 jerseys in tribute to Troy Aikman, their passion Saturday was reserved for the late Reggie White.
Aikman and White joined Warren Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright and Harry Carson as the newest inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nearly all of them choked up or cried during the four-hour ceremony, even the usually unflappable Aikman. Most poignant was the way White, also an ordained preacher who died in December 2004, was honored.
His son, Jeremy, was White’s presenter, and his widow, Sara, made the acceptance speech. Both crying, they shared a long hug after unveiling Reggie’s bust before a rapt audience.
“Reggie was an honest, humble, honorable, dedicated, determined, passionate and caring man,” Sara White said. “He is inducted today not only because of his athletic achievements, but because he was a great player on the field in accordance with being a great person throughout life.”
White was a two-time defensive player of the year who made 13 straight Pro Bowls. He was the career sacks leader with 198 when he retired – Bruce Smith since has passed him – and won a Super Bowl with Green Bay in 1997 after starting his illustrious career in the USFL, then moving to Philadelphia.
“It’s not how we die, it’s how we live,” Sara White said. “I encourage you to live like Reggie lived. His legacy will live on through you.”
Aikman won 90 games in the 1990s, the most by any quarterback in one decade.The top overall pick in the 1989 draft, he guided the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four seasons and made six Pro Bowls.
Moon became the first black quarterback in the Hall. The only one of the inductees not to win an NFL title, he captured five straight Grey Cups for the Edmonton Eskimos after being undrafted out of the University of Washington.
“I was not really invited to the combine and no coaches came out to give me workouts,” Moon said. “It was a foregone conclusion quarterback was not in my future in the NFL, but changing positions was. I was going to play quarterback and I was looking for somebody who would let me do that.
“Thank you, Canada.”
Moon came back to the United States as a free agent in 1984 and spent 10 seasons in the Houston Oilers’ run- and-shoot offense. He also played for Minnesota, Seattle and Kansas City in 17 NFL seasons and passed for more than 70,000 yards (over 42 miles) before he retired at age 44.
It took nearly a quarter century for Madden to make it to the Canton shrine. He was elected by the senior committee for a 103-32-7 coaching record, no losing seasons and the 1977 Super Bowl championship.
Madden might be best known now for his TV announcing and his video game, but he was 36-16-2 against other coaches in the Hall.
Carson became the first inside linebacker from a 3-4 defense to make it to Canton. It was a long-awaited honor – he retired in 1988 after 13 seasons, nine Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants – that Carson recently had given up on.
Two years ago, after making the final 15 candidates for the sixth straight year but not being elected by a panel of sports writers, Carson asked to have his name withdrawn from consideration.
Carson gave his presenter, son Donald, a long hug before addressing the crowd. Donald Carson suffers from a rare blood disorder.
“This isn’t about me. This is about my family,” Carson said. “I am so thankful my son presented me this afternoon; he is definitely a man. He’s been through so much in the last seven months, more than I could ever have gone through. I never knew needles could be so long.”
Wright also played 13 seasons, and won two Super Bowls. He retired in 1979 and was voted in by the seniors committee.
A former college basketball player expecting to play in the NBA, Wright was a tight end who was “stunned” when Cowboys coach Tom Landry said he was being moved to offensive tackle. “Big Cat” went on to make six consecutive Pro Bowls and help the Cowboys win 10 division titles.
HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame by year of induction:
2006 – Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden, Warren Moon, Reggie White, Rayfield Wright.
2005 – Benny Friedman, Dan Marino, Fritz Pollard, Steve Young.
2004 – Bob Brown, Carl Eller, John Elway, Barry Sanders.
2003 – Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, Hank Stram.
2002 – George Allen, Dave Casper, Dan Hampton, Jim Kelly, John Stallworth.
2001 – Nick Buoniconti, Marv Levy, Mike Munchak, Jackie Slater, Lynn Swann, Ron Yary, Jack Youngblood.
2000 – Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Dan Rooney, Dave Wilcox.
1999 – Eric Dickerson, Tom Mack, Ozzie Newsome, Billy Shaw, Lawrence Taylor.
1998 – Paul Krause, Tommy McDonald, Anthony Munoz, Mike Singletary, Dwight Stephenson.
1997 – Mike Haynes, Wellington Mara, Don Shula, Mike Webster.
1996 – Lou Creekmur, Dan Dierdorf, Joe Gibbs, Charlie Joiner, Mel Renfro.
1995 – Jim Finks, Henry Jordan, Steve Largent, Lee Roy Selmon, Kellen Winslow.
1994 – Tony Dorsett, Bud Grant, Jimmy Johnson, Leroy Kelly, Jackie Smith, Randy White.
1993 – Dan Fouts, Larry Little, Chuck Noll, Walter Payton, Bill Walsh.
1992 – Lem Barney, Al Davis, John Mackey, John Riggins.
1991 – Earl Campbell, John Hannah, Stan Jones, Tex Schramm, Jan Stenerud.
1990 – Buck Buchanan, Bob Griese, Franco Harris, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Tom Landry, Bob St. Clair.
1989 – Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Art Shell, Willie Wood.
1988 – Jack Ham, Mike Dikta, Fred Biletnikoff, Alan Page.
1987 – Larry Csonka, Len Dawson, Joe Greene, John Henry Johnson, Jim Langer, Don Maynard, Gene Upshaw.
1986 – Paul Hornung, Ken Houston, Willie Lanier, Fran Tarkenton, Doak Walker.
1985 – Frank Gatski, Joe Namath, Pete Rozelle; O.J. Simpson, Roger Staubach.
1984 – Willie Brown, Mike McCormack, Charley Taylor, Arnie Weinmeister.
1983 – Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell, Paul Warfield.
1982 – Doug Atkins, Sam Huff, George Musso, Merlin Olsen.
1981 – Morris (Red) Badgro, George Blanda, Willie Davis, Jim Ringo.
1980 – Herb Adderley, David (Deacon) Jones, Bob Lilly, Jim Otto.
1979 – Dick Butkus, Yale Lary, Ron Mix, Johnny Unitas.
1978 – Lance Alworth, Weeb Ewbank, Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, Ray Nitschke, Larry Wilson.
1977 – Frank Gifford, Forrest Gregg, Gale Sayers, Bart Starr, Bill Willis.
1976 – Ray Flaherty, Len Ford, Jim Taylor.
1975 – Roosevelt Brown, George Connor, Dante Lavelli, Lenny Moore.
1974 – Tony Canadeo, Bill George, Lou Groza, Dick (Night Train) Lane.
1973 – Raymond Berry, Jim Parker, Joe Schmidt.
1972 – Lamar Hunt, Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, Clarence (Ace) Parker.
1971 – Jim Brown, Bill Hewitt, Frank (Bruiser) Kinard, Vince Lombardi, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle, Norm Van Brocklin.
1970 – Jack Christiansen, Tom Fears, Hugh McElhenny, Pete Pihos.
1969 – Glen (Turk) Edwards, Earle (Greasy) Neale, Leo Nomellini, Joe Perry, Ernie Stautner.
1968 – Cliff Battles, Art Donovan, Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch, Wayne Millner, Marion Motley, Charley Trippi, Alex Wojciechowicz.
1967 – Chuck Bednarik, Charlie Bidwill, Paul Brown, Bobby Layne, Dan Reeves, Ken Strong, Joe Stydahar, Emlen Tunnell.
1966 – Bill Dudley, Joe Guyon, Arnie Herber, Walt Kiesling, George McAfee, Steve Owen, Hugh (Shorty) Ray, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner.
1965 – Guy Chamberlain, John (Paddy) Driscoll, Dan Fortmann, Otto Graham, Sid Luckman, Steve Van Buren, Bob Waterfield.
1964 – Jimmy Conzelman, Ed Healy, Clark Hinkle, Roy (Link) Lyman, August (Mike) Michalske, Art Rooney, George Trafton.
1963 – Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell, Joe Carr, Earl (Dutch) Clark, Red Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Wilbur (Pete) Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Earl (Curly) Lambeau, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, Johnny (Blood) McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe.
