Character: Speeches
So many Pro Football Hall of Famers speak on what character means to them.
You have seen or heard about 10 football character values during your visit:
- Passion.
- Resilience.
- Perseverance.
- Leadership.
- Teamwork.
- Humility.
- Courage.
- Discipline.
- Respect.
- Integrity.
Many Hall of Famers act on these character values through charitable interests outside the confines of "Football Heaven." Here is a rundown of Hall of Famers and some of those interests:
Troy Aikman
Hall of Fame Class: 2006.
Aikman Enterprises/The United Way Foundation — Dallas: Visit the website.
Profile: View Aikman's full profile here.
Marcus Allen
Hall of Fame Class: 2003.
Marcus Allen Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Allen's full profile here.
Morten Andersen
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
Morten Andersen Family Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Andersen's full profile here.
Jerome Bettis
Hall of Fame Class: 2015.
Bus Stops Here Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Bettis' full profile here.
Mel Blount
Hall of Fame Class: 1989.
Mel Blount Youth Leadership Initiative: Visit the website.
Profile: View Blount's full profile here.
Tony Boselli
Hall of Fame Class: 2022.
The Boselli Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Boselli's full profile here.
Derrick Brooks
Hall of Fame Class: 2014.
Derrick Brooks Charities: Visit the website.
Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School: Visit the website.
Profile: View Brooks' full profile here.
Tim Brown
Hall of Fame Class: 2015.
Stars Helping Heroes: Visit the website.(Opens in a new window)
Profile: View Brown's full profile here.
Isaac Bruce
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Isaac Bruce Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Bruce's full profile here.
LeRoy Butler
Hall of Fame Class: 2022.
Butler vs. Bullying: Visit the website.
Fall School Tour: Visit the website.
Profile: View Butler's full profile here.
Earl Campbell
Hall of Fame Class: 1991.
Flavors of Austin/Pro Player Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Butler's full profile here.
Harry Carson
Hall of Fame Class: 2006.
Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Carson's full profile here.
Jimbo Covert
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Vitalant Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Covert's full profile here.
Bill Cowher
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
James Beard Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Cowher's full profile here.
Brian Dawkins
Hall of Fame Class: 2018.
Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Dawkins' full profile here.
Edward DeBartolo Jr.
Hall of Fame Class: 2016.
Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School: Visit the website.
Profile: View DeBartolo's full profile here.
Joe DeLamielleure
Hall of Fame Class: 2003.
The city of Children Orphanage (Mexico): Visit the website.
Richard Dent
Hall of Fame Class: 2011.
Make a Dent Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Dent's full profile here.
Eric Dickerson
Hall of Fame Class: 1999.
Young Warriors Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Dickerson's full profile here.
Dan Dierdorf
Hall of Fame Class: 1996.
The Buddy Fund Advisory Board: Visit the website.
Profile: View Dierdorf's full profile here.
Mike Ditka
Hall of Fame Class: 1988.
Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund: Visit the website.
Profile: View Ditka's full profile here.
Tony Dungy
Hall of Fame Class: 2016.
Dungy Family Foundation: Visit the website.
All Pro Dad Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Dungy's full profile here.
Kenny Easley
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
GTA Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by Kenny Easley: Visit the website.
Profile: View Easley's full profile here.
Dan Fouts
Hall of Fame Class: 1996.
Dominic Founts Memorial Cancer Fund: Visit the website.
Profile: View Fouts' full profile here.
Joe Gibbs
Hall of Fame Class: 1993.
Game Plan for Life Ministry: Visit the website.
Youth forTomorrow Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Gibbs' full profile here.
Tony Gonzalez
Hall of Fame Class: 2019.
Shadow Buddies Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Gonzalez's full profile here.
Darrell Green
Hall of Fame Class: 2008.
Youth Life Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Green's full profile here.
Joe Greene
Hall of Fame Class: 1993.
Greene Family Foundation/Agnes Lucille Craft Greene Memorial Scholarship: Visit the website.
Profile: View Greene's full profile here.
Bob Griese
Hall of Fame Class: 1990.
Judi's House Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Griese's full profile here.
Charles Haley
Hall of Fame Class: 2015.
Tackle Tomorrow: Visit the website.
Profile: View Haley's full profile here.
Cliff Harris
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-Dallas chapter: Visit the website.
Profile: View Harris' full profile here.
Mike Haynes
Hall of Fame Class: 1997.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Haynes' full profile here.
Ted Hendricks
Hall of Fame Class: 1990.
Ted Hendricks Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Hendricks' full profile here.
Michael Irvin
Hall of Fame Class: 2007.
Playmakers Academy: Visit the website.
Profile: View Irvin's full profile here.
Rickey Jackson
Hall of Fame Class: 2010.
Rickey Jackson Community Hope Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Jackson's full profile here.
Edgerrin James
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Edgerrin James Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View James' full profile here.
Calvin Johnson
Hall of Fame Class: 2021.
Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Johnson's full profile here.
Jerry Jones
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Jones' full profile here.
Sonny Jurgensen
Hall of Fame Class: 1983.
Code of Support Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Jurgensen's full profile here.
Jim Kelly
Hall of Fame Class: 2002.
Hunter's Hope Foundation: Visit the website.
Kelly for Kids Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Kelly's full profile here.
Willie Lanier
Hall of Fame Class: 1986.
The Honey Bear Project/Willie Lanier Legacy: Visit the website.
NFL Player Care Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Lanier's full profile here.
Marv Levy
Hall of Fame Class: 2001.
Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund: Visit the website.
Profile: View Levy's full profile here.
Ray Lewis
Hall of Fame Class: 2018.
Power52 Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Lewis' full profile here.
Larry Little
Hall of Fame Class: 1993.
Larry Little Gold Coast Summer Camp: Visit the website.
Profile: View Little's full profile here.
Howie Long
Hall of Fame Class: 2000.
The Chris Long Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Long's full profile here.
Ronnie Lott
Hall of Fame Class: 2000.
All Stars Helping Kids: Visit the website.
Champion Charities: Visit the website.
Child Mind Institute: Visit the website.
Profile: View Lott's full profile here.
John Lynch
Hall of Fame Class: 2021.
John Lynch Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Lynch's full profile here.
Peyton Manning
Hall of Fame Class: 2021.
PeyBack Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Manning's full profile here.
Dan Marino
Hall of Fame Class: 2005.
Dan Marino Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Marino's full profile here.
Randall McDaniel
Hall of Fame Class: 2009.
Huddle Up for Kids Foundation: Visit the website.
Open Arms Home for Children: Visit the website.
Profile: View McDaniel's full profile here.
Ron Mix
Hall of Fame Class: 1979.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Mix's full profile here.
Joe Montana
Hall of Fame Class: 2000.
Four Rings Montana Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Montana's full profile here.
Anthony Muñoz
Hall of Fame Class: 1998.
Muñoz Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Muñoz's full profile here.
Joe Namath
Hall of Fame Class: 1985.
Joe Namath Charitable Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Namath's full profile here.
Ozzie Newsome
Hall of Fame Class: 1999.
NFL Player Care Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Newsome's full profile here.
Jonathan Ogden
Hall of Fame Class: 2013.
Ogden Family Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Ogden's full profile here.
Alan Page
Hall of Fame Class: 1988.
Page Education Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Page's full profile here.
Troy Polamalu
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Troy and Theodora Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Polamalu's full profile here.
Andre Reed
Hall of Fame Class: 2014.
Andre Reed Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Reed's full profile here.
Ed Reed
Hall of Fame Class: 2019.
Ed Reed Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Reed's full profile here.
Jerry Rice
Hall of Fame Class: 2010.
The Jerry Rice 127 Foundation: Visit the website.
8 to 80 Zones: Visit the website.
Profile: View Rice's full profile here.
Dave Robinson
Hall of Fame Class: 2013.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Robinson's full profile here.
Deion Sanders
Hall of Fame Class: 2011.
Stand Together Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Sanders' full profile here.
Donnie Shell
Hall of Fame Class: 2020.
Donnie Shell Scholarship Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Shell's full profile here.
Will Shields
Hall of Fame Class: 2015.
Will to Succeed Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Shields' full profile here.
Mike Singletary
Hall of Fame Class: 1998.
Changing Our Perspective Foundation: Visit the website.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Singletary's full profile here.
Jackie Slater
Hall of Fame Class: 2001.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Slater's full profile here.
John Stallworth
Hall of Fame Class: 2002.
John Stallworth Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Stallworth's full profile here.
Dwight Stephenson
Hall of Fame Class: 1998.
Dwight Stephenson Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Stephenson's full profile here.
Michael Strahan
Hall of Fame Class: 2014.
Merging Vets & Players: Visit the website.
Profile: View Strahan's full profile here.
Fran Tarkenton
Hall of Fame Class: 1986.
Atlanta Children's Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Tarkenton's full profile here.
Jason Taylor
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
Jason Taylor Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Taylor's full profile here.
Thurman Thomas
Hall of Fame Class: 2007.
Thurman Thomas Family Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Thomas' full profile here.
LaDainian Tomlinson
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
Team America/Tomlinson's Touching Lives Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Tomlinson's full profile here.
Brian Urlacher
Hall of Fame Class: 2018.
Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund: Visit the website.
Profile: View Urlacher's full profile here.
Dick Vermeil
Hall of Fame Class: 2022.
Richard & Carolyn Vermeil Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Vermeil's full profile here.
Kurt Warner
Hall of Fame Class: 2017.
First Things First Foundation: Visit the website.
Treasure House Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Warner's full profile here.
Aeneas Williams
Hall of Fame Class: 2014.
Pastor of Spirit Church: Visit the website.
Profile: View Williams' full profile here.
Charles Woodson
Hall of Fame Class: 2021.
Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund: Visit the website.
Profile: View Woodson's full profile here.
Rod Woodson
Hall of Fame Class: 2009.
Hope Through Football: Visit the website.
Profile: View Woodson's full profile here.
Bryant Young
Hall of Fame Class: 2022.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: Visit the website.
Profile: View Young's full profile here.
Steve Young
Hall of Fame Class: 2005.
The Forever Young Foundation: Visit the website.
8 to 80 Zones: Visit the website.
Profile: View Young's full profile here.
Jack Youngblood
Hall of Fame Class: 2001.
Pro Football Retired Players Association: Visit the website.
Profile: View Youngblood's full profile here.