Class of 2014 Elected

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee held its annual selection meeting today and elected seven individuals to the Class of 2014. Bringing the total number of members in the Hall of Fame to 287 are linebacker Derrick Brooks, punter Ray Guy, defensive end Claude Humphrey, tackle Walter Jones, wide receiver Andre Reed, defensive end Michael Strahan, and cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams.

Today’s annual selection meeting was held at the Super Bowl XLVIII Media Center in New York City. The newest members of the Hall of Fame were selected from a list of 17 finalists who had been determined earlier by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee.

Brooks never missed a game during his 14-season career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A six-time All-Pro selection and member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.

Guy becomes the first full-time punter to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. An impact player throughout his entire 14-season career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, he was named All-Pro six straight years.

Humphrey was named first-team All-Pro five times and earned six Pro Bowl nods during his career with the Atlanta Falcons (1968-1978) and Philadelphia Eagles (1979-1981). Although not an official statistic at the time, he is credited with 122 career sacks.

Jones stepped into a starting role as a rookie and excelled as one of the game’s finest tackles during his 12 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, he was named All-Pro six times and voted to nine Pro Bowls.

Reed caught 951 passes for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns in his 16-season career. He hauled in 50 or more passes in 13 seasons which ranked second at the time of his retirement.

Strahan recorded double-digit sack totals six times in a nine-season span including a NFL single-season record 22.5 sacks in 2001. A five-time All-Pro pick, he amassed 141.5 sacks in his 15-season career with the New York Giants.
   
Williams, a four-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, intercepted 55 passes for 807 yards and 9 touchdowns during a 14-season career with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams.

The first order of business for the Selection Committee at today’s meeting was to discuss and debate the merits of the two Seniors Finalists, Guy and Humphrey. Both candidates were required to receive at least an 80 percent positive vote to earn election.

Next the Selection Committee presented and reviewed the 15 modern-era candidates that included two cut downs in the process. The first cut of finalists was from 15 to 10. The five eliminated from consideration at that point were Andersen, Brown, DeBartolo, Jr., Dungy, and Lynch. After one last round of discussion, the final 10 finalists were reduced to five. Removed at that point were Bettis, Greene, Haley, Harrison, and Shields.

All five of the remaining finalists – Brooks, Jones, Reed, Strahan, and Williams – then were voted on individually and received the necessary 80 percent positive vote from the Selection Committee to be elected.

Representatives of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche tabulated all votes during the meeting.

The newest class of enshrinees will be introduced to the public on the “3rd Annual NFL Honors” show, a two-hour primetime awards show airing nationally tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. 

 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014

DERRICK BROOKS

Linebacker … 6-0, 232 … Florida State … 1995-2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers … 14 seasons, 224 games … Selected by Buccaneers in 1st round (28th player overall) of 1995 NFL Draft…  Never missed game during 14-season career … Started all but three games rookie season … Never missed a start for remainder of career … Earned All-Rookie honors after finishing second on team with 80 tackles … In 1997, led Bucs to first postseason appearance since 1981 … Topped team with 182 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 10 passes defensed, earned first of 11 Pro Bowl selections …  With Brooks, Bucs led NFL in total defense twice (2002 and 2005) and topped NFC five times (1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007) during his career … Named NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, 2002 when he again led Tampa Bay with 173 tackles, career-high five interceptions (three returned for TDs), 15 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack … Was a major contributor in the Bucs’ victory in Super Bowl XXXVII where he had three tackles, one pass defensed, one interception returned 44 yards for a TD against the Oakland Raiders … Six-time All-Pro choice, named All-NFC eight times … Selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s … Born April 18, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida. BIO>>>

RAY GUY

Punter … 6-3, 195 … Southern Mississippi … 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders … 14 seasons, 207 games … All-American, nation’s top collegiate punter, 1972 … First punter ever to be selected in first round of draft, picked by Raiders (23rd player overall), 1973 … Became impact player from very first game as a rookie … Averaged under 40 yards only one season in NFL career … Had best average (45.3 yards) as rookie … Led NFL in punting, 1974, 1975, 1977 … Had only three of 1,049 punts blocked … Career average was 42.4 yards … Had 619 punts without a block, 1979-1986 … Veteran of 22 postseason games, adding 111 punts for 42.4 average … All-Pro six straight seasons, 1973-78 … All-AFC seven times … Played in seven Pro Bowls, including six straight from 1974 to 1979 … Played in seven AFC championship games … Member of Raiders victories in Super Bowls XI, XV, XVIII … Three-game totals: 14 punts, 41.9-yard average … Had 77 punts inside 20-yard line, 1984-86 … First punter to hit Louisiana Superdome scoreboard, 1977 Pro Bowl … Doubled as Raiders’ emergency quarterback with strong accurate passing arm … Born December 22, 1949, in Swainsboro, Georgia. BIO>>>

CLAUDE HUMPHREY

Defensive End … 6-4, 252 … Tennessee State … 1968-1978 (1975 inj. res.) Atlanta Falcons, 1979-1981 Philadelphia Eagles … 14 seasons, 171 games … Falcons’ first-round pick (3rd player overall) in 1968 draft … Recorded 11.5 sacks as rookie … Named National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year, 1968 … Although not official NFL stat until after he retired, Humphrey is credited with 122 career quarterback sacks … Highly effective pass rusher, led team in sacks nine of 13 seasons … Earned first-team All-Pro in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977 … Second-team All-NFL/All-Pro 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977 … Selected to play in six Pro Bowls … Extremely durable, missed just two games prior to season-ending knee injury in 1975 … Rebounded with career-best 15 sacks in 1976 and was named team Most Valuable Player … Traded to Eagles in 1979 for two fourth-round picks following a brief “retirement” … In first year with Eagles, finished second in sacks and his 31 quarterback “hurries” were a team best … In 1980, team high 14.5 sacks helped Eagles advance as NFC champions to Super Bowl XV … Career stats include two interceptions, a fumble recovery for TD, and two safeties … Born June 29, 1944 at Memphis, Tennessee. BIO>>>

WALTER JONES

Tackle … 6-5, 300 … Holmes Comm. College (MS); Florida State … 1997-2008 Seattle Seahawks … 12 seasons, 180 games … Drafted in 1st round (6th player overall) of 1997 NFL Draft … Seahawks traded up to select Jones as sixth overall pick … Ability on football field was evident from start … Earned starting left tackle spot during rookie training camp, named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in October, and a consensus pick for multiple all-rookie teams … Provided blindside protection for quarterback Warren Moon as Seahawks topped NFL in total passing yards that season … Following 1999 season, Jones became first offensive lineman in Seahawks history elected to Pro Bowl … First of team-record nine All-Star nods … In 2001 was recognized with first selection as first-team All-Pro … Highlights included Jones and line mates opening holes for Shaun Alexander’s 266-yard day that, at time, was fourth highest single-game rushing total in NFL history … Earned All-Pro honors five more times (2002, 2004-07) … A team leader, Jones was integral part of Alexander’s MVP season in 2005 … Jones helped his running back chalk up a franchise-record and league-high 1,880 yards while establishing the then NFL mark for touchdowns in a season (28) as Seattle led the NFL in scoring with 452 points … Jones’ team-record 10 playoff starts included 2005 NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XL … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s … Born January 19, 1974 in Aliceville, Alabama. BIO>>>

ANDRE REED

Wide Receiver … 6-2, 190 … Kutztown … 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins … 16 seasons, 234 games … Selected by Buffalo in 4th round (86th player overall) of 1985 NFL Draft … Most prolific receiver in Buffalo Bills history … His 941 career receptions still Bills record and 266 more than number two on that list … His 13,095 career reception yardage, 36 games with 100-plus receiving yards, and 15 catches in a game are current team records … Known for his “yards after catch” … His 951 career receptions were third all-time in NFL history at the time of his retirement … His 13 seasons, including nine consecutive, with 50-plus receptions was exceeded only by Jerry Rice at time of Reed’s retirement … Reed is tied with Bills running back Thurman Thomas for team best career touchdowns (87), most on passes from Jim Kelly … Kelly-Reed tandem held NFL record for career receptions (663) until 2004 when eclipsed by Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison … Known for toughness as he made most of his receptions over the middle … A four-time All-AFC choice and three-time All-NFL second-team, was selected to play in seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-1995) … Added an additional 85 catches for 1,229 yards, including five 100-yard games in postseason play … Born January 29, 1964 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. BIO>>>

MICHAEL STRAHAN

Defensive End … 6-5, 255 … Texas Southern … 1993-2007 New York Giants … 15 seasons, 216 games … Selected in 2nd round (40th player overall) in 1993 draft … Dominant pass rusher and also excellent at defending the run … Recorded 141.5 career sacks … Had 38 multi-sack games during career … Registered double-digit sack totals six times during nine-season span, 1997-2005 … Suffered torn pectoral muscle in 2004 but rebounded following season by starting all 16 games and amassing 11.5 sacks … Named first-team All-Pro five times (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005) … All-NFC five seasons … Voted to seven Pro Bowls … Set NFL single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks, 2001 … Also won NFL sack title in 2003 with 18.5 sacks … Named unanimous NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 2001 … Started at left defensive end in two NFC championship game wins, two Super Bowls … Recorded two tackles, one assisted tackle, one sack and one pass defensed in Giants’ 17-14 win over Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, his last NFL game … Selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s … Born November 21, 1971 in Houston, Texas. BIO>>>

AENEAS WILLIAMS

Cornerback/Safety … 5-11, 194 … Southern University … 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams … 14 seasons, 211 games … Selected in the 3rd round (59th player overall) of 1991 NFL Draft … Starred at cornerback for first 12 years of career before moving to safety … Earned Pro Bowl nods at both positions, seven times at cornerback and once as safety … Had first career pick and four deflected passes in NFL debut … Finished year tied for most interceptions in NFC with six, also recorded 17 passes defensed, 48 tackles … Named NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year by NFL Players Association … Earned Pro Bowl nod and All-NFC acclaim for first time in 1994 when he added another conference interception title with career-high nine interceptions … Named first-team All-NFC 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2001 … Selected to NFL’s All-Decade Team 1990s … Recorded interception in every season but last and had five or more picks in a season six times … Led Cardinals in interceptions seven times and Rams leading interceptor in 2003 … In all, registered 55 interceptions for 807 yards … His nine pick-sixes tied him for second all-time at time of retirement … Shared NFL record for longest fumble return in upset victory over Redskins Nov. 5, 2000, 104 yards for a TD … Recorded interception in record four straight postseason games during span from 1998 to 2001 … Born January 29, 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana. BIO>>>

Brooks, Guy, Humphrey, Jones, Reed, Strahan, and Williams will be formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. The Enshrinement Ceremony takes place at Fawcett Stadium in Canton and will be televised nationally by NFL Network.

The annual NFL/Hall of Fame Game which kicks off the NFL’s preseason will be played on Sunday, Aug. 3. Teams have not yet been announced. 

The Enshrinement Ceremony is the marquee event of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival which features 24 events over two and a half weeks.

Tickets and ticket packages are on sale now at ProFootballHOF.com/2014tix.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a proud partner of NFL On Location, the League’s event experience and hospitality source, offering exclusive ticket packages to the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The all-inclusive event experience ticket packages include exclusive events such as Class of 2014 Autograph Sessions, Legends Club VIP Tailgate Parties, VIP Seating at the Enshrinement Ceremony, Hall of Famer Red Carpet Walk and more. Ticket packages are on sale at Profootballhof.nflonlocation.com or 877-611-3947. Packages are serviced by NFL On Location powered by Quint Events, the official travel partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.