HOF Honor Roll Grows with 2005 Class
Class To Be Inducted in Canton on August 7th
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| Quarterbacks Dan Marino (left) and Steve Young (right) address the Super Bowl media shortly after their election on Saturday. |
Quarterbacks Benny Friedman, Dan Marino, Steve Young, and halfback Fritz Pollard make up the Class of the 2005 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.
The four-man class was elected by the Hall of Fame’s 39-member Selection Committee who met Saturday morning in Jacksonville, Florida. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 15 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.
Friedman was the NFL’s first great passer. His first four seasons were legendary as he threw an NFL record 11 touchdowns as a rookie with the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1927, and set another record in 1929 with 20 TD passes as the quarterback of the New York Giants.
Marino, a first round pick in 1983, became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. He is the game’s all-time leader in attempts (8,358), completions (4,967), yards (61,361), and touchdowns (420).
Pollard was a football pioneer as one of just two African-American players in the NFL during its infancy. He also gained recognition when he became the first African-American head coach in NFL history.
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Press Conference Announcing |
Young won a record-tying six NFL passing titles during his NFL career. Still ranked as the top rated passer of all-time, Young was also a potent threat when he ran with the ball. A four-time All-Pro selection, he was named to seven Pro Bowls.
The 2005 class will increase to 229 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 7, 2005. The annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game will be played on Monday, August 8.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2005
Benny Friedman
Quarterback . . . 5-10, 183 . . . Michigan . . . 1927 Cleveland Bulldogs, 1928 Detroit Wolverines, 1929-1931 New York Giants, 1932-1934 Brooklyn Dodgers . . . 8 seasons, 81 games . . . A two-time All-America choice . . . Was the game’s first great passer . . . Threw an NFL record 11 touchdown passes as a rookie in 1927 . . . Set another NFL record in 1929 with 20 touchdown passes . . . Led league in touchdown passes four consecutive years (1927-1930) . . . His 66 career touchdown passes was an NFL record until surpassed by Hall of Fame quarterback Arnie Herber in his 12th NFL season, 1944 . . . First four pro seasons are legendary . . . Although no official statistics were kept, believed to have completed half of his passes (35% was considered good) . . . Triple-threat player, could run, pass, kick . . . Led league in scoring in 1928 . . . Giants owner Tim Mara purchased Detroit franchise to get Friedman for the Giants . . . A leg injury in 1931 and college coaching limited his play late in career . . . Born March 18, 1905 in Cleveland, Ohio . . . Died November 23, 1982. COMPLETE HOF BIO>>>
Dan Marino
Quarterback . . . 6-4, 218. . . Pittsburgh. . . 1983-1999 Miami Dolphins. . . 17 seasons, 242 games. . . Selected in first round (27th player overall) of 1983 NFL Draft. . . Earned starting role early in rookie season. . . As a rookie guided the Dolphins to 12-4 record and AFC East title and earned Rookie of the Year honors. . . Also named to first of nine Pro Bowls. . . In 1984 led Dolphins to 14-2 record and division crown. . . Became first player ever to pass for 5,000 yards in single season (5,084). . . His 48 touchdown passes in a season obliterated the previous NFL record (36). . . By season's end, set six league records and named NFL's Most Valuable Player. . . In 1984 AFC Championship Game passed for 421 yards and four touchdowns in 45-28 win over Steelers, earning first and only trip to a Super Bowl. . . A prolific passer, by end of the 1995 season had supplanted Fran Tarkenton as the career passing leader in attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. . . Career totals are staggering; completing 4,967 of 8,358 passes for 61,361 yards, and 420 touchdowns. . . Thirteen times passed for 3,000 yards in a season, including six seasons he reached the 4,000-yard plateau. . . Passed for 300 yards in a game 63 times and threw for 400 yards in a game 13 times . . . Named first or second team All-Pro eight times and All-AFC six times. . . Born September 15, 1961 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. COMPLETE HOF BIO>>>
Fritz Pollard
Halfback/Coach. . . 5-9, 165 . . . Bates, Brown . . . 1919-1921, 1925-1926 Akron Pros/Indians, 1922 Milwaukee Badgers, 1923-1924 Gilberton Cadamounts (independent pro team) 1923, 1925 Hammond Pros, 1925 Providence Steam Roller . . . 8 seasons . . . All-America halfback from Brown. . . A pro football pioneer. . . Began career in 1919 with Akron (OH) Pros. . . . In 1920, Pros joined newly founded American Professional Football Association, later renamed the National Football League . . . With Pollard leading the charge, Pros went undefeated (8-0-3) to win NFL's first crown. . . As member of new league, Pollard immediately earned place in pro football history as one of just two African Americans in the NFL. . . In 1921 earned another distinction as first African American head coach in NFL when Pros named him co-coach. . . An exciting, elusive runner was most feared back in fledgling league. . . During his NFL career played and sometimes coached four different teams, Akron (1920-21/1925-26), Milwaukee (1922), Hammond (1923, 1925), and Providence (1925). . . Also played for Gilberton Cadamounts, strong independent pro team in Pennsylvania “Coal League” (1923-1924). . . After playing career, organized and coached all-black independent pro team, Chicago Black Hawks, 1928-1932 . . . Born January 27, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois . . . Died May 11, 1986. COMPLETE HOF BIO>>>
Steve Young
Quarterback . . .6-2, 205 . . . Brigham Young . . . 1985-1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987-1999 San Francisco 49ers . . .15 seasons, 169 games . . . Entered NFL in first round of 1984 supplemental draft after two seasons in USFL . . . Traded to 49ers in 1987. . . Initially served as backup quarterback . . . Saw limited action first four seasons with 49ers . . . Stepped into starting role in 1991 . . . Despite knee injury that forced him out of five games, passed for 2,517 yards and 17 touchdowns for league-high 101.8 passer rating – first of four straight passing titles . . . Added two more passing titles in 1996, 1997 to tie him with legendary Sammy Baugh as only quarterbacks to win six NFL passing crowns. . . In 1994, set then-record 112.8 passer rating, added seven rushing touchdowns. . . In NFC Championship Game, threw two touchdowns and rushed for one as 49ers downed Cowboys 38-28 . . . Passed for 325 yards and a Super Bowl record six touchdowns in 49-26 win over Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX . . .Was named Super Bowl MVP . . . During his NFL career threw for 3,000-plus yards six times and 20 or more touchdown passes in a season five times, and posted a passer rating of 100 or higher six times . . . Rushed for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns . . . Named All-Pro four times, earned All-NFC honors three times, named to seven Pro Bowls and two-time league MVP. . . Born October 11, 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah. COMPLETE HOF BIO>>>
Hall of Famers Visit Hawaii
A week after being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Steve Young and Dan Marino, two members of the 2005 class attended a press conference in Hawaii .
Lucky Fan Wins Trip to HOF Weekend
Brian Pehl of Fredericksburg, Texas was the lucky winner our Predict the Class of 2005 Contest and has won a trip for two to the 2005 Enshrinement Weekend Celebration.