Kevin Mawae Donates Artifacts To The Hall

Class of 2019 Enshrinee Kevin Mawae, who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, recently donated more than 200 items from his career and life to the Hall. Aligning with its important Mission to “Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE,” the Hall’s curatorial team will preserve Mawae’s artifacts for future generations of fans.

Among the jerseys, posters, footballs, helmets, photos, notes, playbooks, newspaper clippings and pads, the following are some notable artifacts from Mawae’s collection:

• New York Jets jersey worn by Mawae during an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 2, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan. The game opened up the National Football League’s 84th Season along with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton. Mawae was named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl that season.
• Mawae’s game-worn AFL 50th Anniversary Tennessee Titans jersey from his final season in 2009.
• Seattle Seahawks jersey worn by Mawae. He spent his first four seasons in Seattle during which time he recorded five fumble recoveries.
• Mawae’s game worn Louisiana State University Tigers helmet. He was a four-year starter earning several Southeastern Conference and All-American accolades.
• Game ball presented to Mawae in recognition of his 200th career game on Oct. 7, 2007 against the Atlanta Falcons. He was a part of an offensive line that did not allow a single sack that year.
• Ed Block Courage Award presented to Mawae in 2009 during his final season in the league after battling back from a torn tricep tendon in his right elbow in Dec. 2008.

A sampling of other interesting items donated by Mawae include:

• Laminated handwritten list (pictured) of Pro Football Hall of Famers who played center, noting the years they played, length of career, and year of induction. The list served as inspiration to Mawae throughout his NFL career.

• Fragment in the shape of a cross from the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
• New York Jets game ball awarded to Mawae in 2004 after fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN won the 2004 NFL rushing title with 1,697 yards.
• Poem that hung in Mawae’s locker which read:
  
  “Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self- satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best you are capable of being.
  
  Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.
  
  Remember this is your lifetime through tomorrow there will be more to do... And failure awaits for all who stay with some success made yesterday...
  
  Tomorrow you must try more and even harder than before.”
   
• NFL Players Association cigar box presented to Mawae as the team representative for the New York Jets.

Many of Mawae’s artifacts will be showcased in the Class of 2019 Locker Exhibit which is slated to open early this summer. The exhibit will feature lockers containing mementos from the careers of the class members, including Champ Bailey, Pat Bowlen, Gil Brandt, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law, Mawae, Ed Reed and Johnny Robinson.

“Our collection of items sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame represents a lifetime of football and a love of the game that means so much to our family. From the first season of flag football at eight years old to the end of my NFL career, this collection is a chance for me to share my journey and the privilege to be in the Hall of Fame,” Mawae stated.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to museums. A mere three percent of museums in the United States have earned AAM accreditation. The Hall of Fame preserves its collection in the world-class Ralph Wilson, Jr. Pro Football Research & Preservation Center, where artifacts are cared for by curatorial professionals utilizing the highest museum standards.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 26. The Hall’s summer hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, are in effect from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fans can plan their visits to the Hall by visiting www.ProFootballHOF.com/Visit.