A huge sack is no dent to the Hall’s collection

The Pro Football Hall of Fame received a gift just in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.  Today a package from Class of 2011 enshrinee Richard Dent arrived at the museum. Inside the box contained the helmet Dent wore during the memorable 1985 season and his Super Bowl XX MVP performance.

Dent was a one-man wrecking ball for the Chicago Bears in 1985 and the team’s 46-defense which terrorized opposing offenses throughout the season. He registered a league-leading 17 sacks along with 38 tackles, eight passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions which he returned for 10 yards and a score. In the Super Bowl Dent started at right defensive end, had three tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed, and two forced fumbles to help the Bears defeat the New England Patriots 46-10.

“We are extremely thrilled that Richard has sent the Pro Football Hall of Fame an artifact which represents one of the of greatest single-season performances by a defensive player in pro football history,” commented Jason Aikens, the Hall of Fame’s Collections Curator. “The 1985 Bears were one of the greatest and beloved teams ever to play in the National Football League. Visitors to the Hall of Fame are in for a real treat when they see this wonderful piece of history on display.”

Dent’s helmet will be placed in a special exhibit devoted to the Class of 2011 inside the Hall's Moments, Memories & Mementos Gallery.