The Hall of Fame Catches New Reed Artifacts

The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently received a major gift from Class of 2014 Hall of Famer Andre Reed. The Buffalo Bills wide receiver, who ranked third all-time with 951 career receptions when he retired, passed along to the Hall of Fame several key items from his playing days.

Now part of the Hall of Fame’s permanent collection is the helmet Reed wore during his final years in Buffalo, a pair of Reed’s well-worn shoulder pads, and a pair of his Bills pants.

Reed, who is considered one of the greatest “yards after catch” receivers in NFL history, is the first member of the newly elected Class to donate new artifacts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame since being elected last month. The mementos will soon be displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a special exhibit dedicated to the Class of 2014.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame had acquired other mementos from the future Hall of Famer during his playing career. The gloves and jersey he wore on Nov. 23, 1997 when became the NFL’s third all-time leading receiver were sent to Canton shortly after the milestone moment.

Reed and six other members of the Class of 2014 – Derrick Brooks, Ray Guy, Claude Humphrey, Walter Jones, Michael Strahan and Aeneas Williams – will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 2.