The seven-man class was elected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee who met today in North Texas. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 17 finalists who had been determined earlier by the committee.
HERE THEY ARE:
RICHARD DENT
Defensive End … 6-5, 265 … Tennessee State … 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles … 15 seasons, 203 games … Selected by Chicago in eighth round (203rd player overall) of 1983 NFL Draft … Played in every game as rookie … Became full-time starter early in 1984, beginning a 10-year period in which he recorded 10 or more sacks in eight of 10 seasons … An intimidating player, could speed rush or power rush the quarterback … Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1987, recorded 4.5 sacks in a game, both vs. Raiders … One of game’s premier pass rushers with 137.5 career sacks, which at time of retirement third all-time best … Led NFC with team record 17.5 sacks, 1984 … Following year, led NFL with 17 sacks as an integral part of Bears dominating defense … His three tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed and two forced fumbles earned him Super Bowl XX MVP honors following Bears lopsided 46-10 win over Patriots … Career statistics include eight interceptions (one touchdown), a safety, and fumble recovery for a touchdown … Named first- or second-team All-Pro four times, All-NFC five times … Selected to play in four Pro Bowls (1985, 1986, 1991, 1994).
MARSHALL FAULK
Running Back … 5-10, 208 … San Diego State … 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams … 12 playing seasons … 176 games … Selected by Colts 1st round (2nd player overall) in 1994 draft … Rushed for 143 yards, scored three touchdowns in rookie debut … Finished season with 1,282 rushing yards and AFC-leading 11 TDs … Also caught 52 passes for 522 yards and touchdown … Named Rookie of the Year … Rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of first eight seasons … In 1999 became second in NFL history to eclipse 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving and set then-record for yards from scrimmage (2,429) and was named NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year for first of three straight times … Named NFL MVP in 2000 after setting single-season record for touchdowns (26) that included league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns … Was first of two straight seasons he led NFL in scoring and touchdowns … First-team All-Pro 1999, 2000, 2001 … Second-team All-Pro in 1994, 1995, 1998 … Voted to seven Pro Bowls… All-AFC twice and All-NFC three times in career … First player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four straight seasons (1998-2001) … Retired as NFL’s ninth-ranked rusher (12,279 yards) … Recorded 767 receptions (16th all-time at retirement) for 6,875 yards, 36 touchdowns … His 19,154 yards from scrimmage was sixth all-time.
CHRIS HANBURGER
Linebacker … 6-2, 218 … North Carolina … 1965-1978 Washington Washington Football Team … 14 playing seasons, 187 games … Selected by the Washington Football Team in 18th round (245th player overall) in 1965 NFL Draft … Made mark as a rookie as big-play maker … Was “defensive quarterback” and one of most dependable and steady linebackers of era … An integral part of dominant Washington Football Team teams of the 1970s … Selected first-team All-NFL four times in five-season span (1972-76) … Named All-Eastern Conference, 1968 and 1969; All-NFC six times in seven seasons (1970-76) … Voted to nine Pro Bowls … Outstanding play in 1972 helped lead the Washington Football Team to first Super Bowl berth … Recorded numerous game-changing plays throughout season as team won NFC East with 11-3 mark … Shared team lead with career-high four interceptions … Strong play continued into postseason as the Washington Football Team downed Green Bay 16-3 in divisional playoff before facing Dallas in 1972 NFC Championship Game … Recorded two tackles and six assists as Washington Football Team routed Cowboys 26-3 … Added another strong game in Super Bowl appearance recording four solo tackles, assisting on two in 14-7 loss to Dolphins in Super Bowl VII … In all, Hanburger recovered three fumbles for touchdowns, an NFL record at time of retirement … Also recorded 19 career interceptions for 347 yards and 2 TDs .
LES RICHTER
Linebacker … 6-3, 238 … California …1954-1962 Los Angeles Rams … Nine playing seasons, 112 games … Selected by New York Yanks in first round (2nd player overall) of 1952 draft …Yanks folded two days after NFL Draft … Team assets, including signing rights to Richter, were granted to expansion Dallas Texans … Los Angeles Rams dealt 11 players to Texans to obtain Richter … Rams waited two years while Richter served in military … Upon return signed with Rams and embarked on nine-season career that earned him reputation as one of the best linebackers of his era … Known for rugged, punishing style of play … Was selected to eight straight Pro Bowls, missing only final season in 1962 … Also named a first- or second-team All-NFL each season during a six-year span, 1955-1960 … Also saw some time at center and handled Rams placekicking duties early in career … Received much attention in 1955 for his play on defense as well as clutch placekicking that helped Rams to 8-3-1 record and NFL Western Division crown and berth in championship game … Led Rams in scoring, 1955 and 1956 … In all, totaled 193 points off of 29 field goals and 106 extra points during career … Recorded 16 career interceptions for 206 yards … Twice had four picks in a season (1957 and 1961) and was Rams leading interceptor in 1957 … Battled through various injuries but never missed game during 112-game career.
ED SABOL
Founder/President/Chairman … Ohio State … 1964-1995 NFL Films … Man behind idea of NFL Films …Aspiring filmmaker, who at age 45 hatched idea of forming Blair Productions, a film company named after daughter … In 1962 contacted NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle with offer to double $1,500 bid for rights to film 1962 NFL Championship Game … Rozelle accepted and Sabol’s film company was off and rolling … From start, incorporated unique creative angles inspired by his background in drama society at Ohio State and brief stint on Broadway … Rather than single camera located high in stadium, Sabol added sideline camera to catch intensity of players … Blair Productions continued to shoot NFL action for next two years before Sabol convinced NFL it needed own motion picture company … With that, NFL Films was born … Served as President until 1985 when he turned over role to son Steve … Senior Sabol continued to serve as Chairman through his retirement in 1995 … During tenure, NFL Films won 52 Emmy Awards … With Ed Sabol’s vision, NFL Films revolutionized manner in which sports are presented … Firsts in film include use of microphone on coaches, referees and players; use of reverse-angle replay; adding popular music to footage; and popular bloopers videos … Began producing weekly NFL highlight shows in the late 1960s, introduced first sports home video in 1980.
DEION SANDERS
Cornerback/Kick Returner/Punt Returner … 6-1, 195 … Florida State … 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Washington Football Team, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens … 14 seasons, 188 games … Selected by Atlanta in 1st round (5th player overall) of 1989 draft … Returned punt 68 yards for touchdown in NFL debut … Scored total of six touchdowns on punt returns, three TDs on kickoff returns, and returned nine interceptions for scores during career … Multi-faceted athlete returned one fumble for TD and had 60 receptions for 784 yards and 3 TDs … In all, recorded 53 career interceptions including five with Ravens when he returned to field after three-year retirement … Member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1990s as both cornerback, punt returner … Led NFL in punt returns, 1998, with 15.6 average … Led NFC in kickoffs in 1992 and interceptions in 1991, 1993 … Was widely regarded as “shutdown corner” during career … Named first-team All-Pro nine times at cornerback in addition to receiving All-Pro as kick returner in 1992 and punt returner 1998 … Elected to eight Pro Bowls … Retired second all-time in interception return yardage (1,331), tied for second for most interceptions returned for touchdown in a career (9) and a season (3) … His 303 yards gained on interception returns in 1994, third best in NFL at retirement …. In 1994 became first player to have two 90-yard interception returns for touchdowns in same season … Named NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, 1994.
SHANNON SHARPE
Tight End … 6-2, 230 … Savannah State … 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens … 14 playing seasons, 204 games … Three-time All-America at Savannah State … Selected by Broncos in the seventh round (192nd player overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft … At time of retirement, his 815 career receptions and 10,060 yards and 62 TDs were all NFL career records for a tight end … His 214 receiving yards vs. Kansas City in 2002 is an NFL single-game record for a tight end … Tied NFL record with 13 receptions in single post-season game (vs. Raiders, 1993) … Three times during career amassed over 1,000 yards receiving … Earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors five times and first- or second-team All-AFC honors six times … Selected to play in eight Pro Bowls (1993-99, 2002) … In 1996 led all tight ends in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,062 yards), and receiving touchdowns (10) … Following season had career best 1,107 receiving yards for career best 15.4 yard average … An integral part of Broncos Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII and Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championships .
