Class of 2004

The four-man class was elected by the Hall of Fame’s 39-member Selection Committee who met Saturday morning in Houston, Texas.  The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 15 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.  
 
Brown, the first round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964, earned All-NFL honors in seven of his 10 seasons with the Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Los Angeles Rams.  The punishing lineman was also chosen to play in six Pro Bowls.

 

Eller, a key element of the Minnesota Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defense, played all but one of his 16 seasons with Minnesota.  In all, he played in 225 games and earned first- or second-team honors every year from 1967 to 1973.  He also was named to six Pro Bowls.

 

Elway, the first overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft, played 16 seasons with the Denver Broncos.  He is one of two players in NFL history to pass for more than 50,000 yards in a career.  A master of fourth-quarter comebacks, Elway capped his career by earning Most Valuable Player honors in Super Bowl XXXIII.

 

Barry Sanders Class of 2004 T-shirt

Sanders, one of the NFL's most electrifying runners, was the first player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons.  Named first or second-team All-NFL in each of his 10 years with the Detroit Lions, he rushed for 15,269 yards and scored 99 touchdowns during his career.

The 2004 class will increase to 225 the number of all-time greats permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Formal enshrinement ceremonies will be held in Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, on Sunday, August 8, 2004.  The annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game will be played on Monday, August 9. 

 

Archived Video from NFL.com

Listen to Saturday's press conference announcing the new class and hear what the four newest members of the Hall of Fame had to say.