Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2015
Charles Haley, left, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff, Tim Brown, Bill Polian, Jerome Bettis and Ron Wolf take center stage Thursday after receiving their jackets in Canton, Ohio. Class member Junior Seau was honored posthumously.
In alphabetical order, the eight inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday:
JEROME BETTIS: Born Feb. 16, 1972, in Detroit
Running back, from Notre Dame
1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh
Selected by Rams in 1st round (10th player overall) in 1993 and was rookie of the year, finishing second in rushing, third in total yards ... Leading rusher for Rams three seasons, Steelers eight times … Eight 1,000-plus yard seasons, tied for third-best in NFL history at retirement … Ranked fifth all-time in career rushing yards with 13,662 … Six Pro Bowls … All-Pro: 1993, 1996; All-Pro second-team 1997 …
TIM BROWN: Born July 22, 1966, in Dallas
Wide receiver / returner, from Notre Dame
Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay
Heisman Trophy Winner selected by in 1st round (6th player overall) of 1988 draft … Set Raiders franchise records for receptions, receiving yards, and punt return yards … At time of retirement his 14,934 receiving yards were second-highest total in NFL history; 1,094 receptions were third; and 100 touchdown catches were tied for third … Total of 19,682 combined net yards, fifth all-time at time of retirement … Voted to Pro Bowl nine times.
CHARLES HALEY: Born Jan. 6, 1964, in Gladys, Va.
Defensive end/linebacker, from James Madison
1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco, 1992-96 Dallas
Selected by 49ers in fourth round (96th player overall), 1986 … Only player to play on five winning Super Bowl teams … Began career at linebacker and led 49ers in sacks in each of first six seasons … Moved to defensive end after trade to Dallas … Twice named NFC defensive player of the year … Five Pro Bowls … All-Pro twice … Member of 10 division championship teams … Recorded six double-digit sack totals; career total of 100.5.
BILL POLIAN: Born Dec. 8, 1942, in Bronx, N.Y.
Contributor, from New York University
1978-1982 Kansas City, 1984-1992 Buffalo,
1993-1994, 1995-1997 Carolina, 1998-2011 Indianapolis
Most noted for turning fortunes of three teams that resulted in combined eight championship games, five Super Bowl appearances ... Led Buffalo to four straight division titles, three Super Bowl berths … Led Carolina to NFC championship in second season … Guided Colts to eight division titles, two Super Bowl appearances, including Super Bowl XLI win … First administrator named NFL’s executive of year by the Sporting News six times.
JUNIOR SEAU: Born Jan. 19, 1969, in San Diego
Linebacker, from USC
1990-2002 San Diego, 2003-05 Miami, 2006-09 New England
First-round pick in 1990 NFL draft … All-Pro eight times … Named to 12 Pro Bowls … Recorded 56.5 career sacks, 18 interceptions … Recorded 10 or more tackles in a game 64 times … NFL defensive player of the year, 1992 … Named to NFL’s all-decade team of 1990s …Died May 2, 2012, at the age of 43.
WILL SHIELDS: Born Sept. 15, 1971, in Fort Riley, Kan.
Guard, from Nebraska
1993-2006 Kansas City
Third-round draft pick, 1993 … Inserted into lineup in first NFL game, never missed a game in career … 224 games played, 223 starts are franchise records … As rookie, helped Chiefs to first division title since 1971 … 12 straight Pro Bowl selections … First-team All-Pro in 1999, 2002, 2003 ... Second-team All-Pro four times … Named to NFL’s all-decade team of 2000s.
MICK TINGELHOFF: Born May 22, 1940, in Lexington, Neb.
Center, from Nebraska
1962-1978 Minnesota
Signed as free agent by Vikings, 1962 … Moved from linebacker to starting center in rookie camp and never missed a game, starting all 240 games over 17-season career … Opened holes for four Vikings Pro Bowl running backs … Key component of Vikings teams that claimed 10 division titles … Starter in four Super Bowls … Named All-Pro/NFL seven straight seasons, 1964-1970 … Voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls.
RON WOLF: Born Dec. 30, 1938, in New Freedom, Pa.
Contributor, from Maryville College (Tenn.)
1963-1974, ’79-1989 Oakland/L.A. Raiders, 1976-78 Tampa Bay,
1990-1991 New York Jets, 1991-2001 Green Bay
Helped build a Raiders franchise that won nine division titles, played in eight AFL/AFC championship games and three Super Bowls ... GM of expansion Buccaneers, built foundation of team that reached NFC championship in fourth season … Turned Packers into dominant NFL franchise, claiming three straight NFC Central titles and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including Super Bowl XXXI victory.
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