Front, Back and Center at Second ‘Knock’

A great benefit of the surprise knocks that now take place for new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, either at their home or some undisclosed location in their hometowns, is having family members participate in the process and witness it happen. 

Typically, only a few people – a wife and children – are inside the house.

On the second stop to inform members of the Class of 2022 of their election, this was not the case.

For former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Bryant Young, two of his older children walked to the door just behind camera crews with Hall of Famer Charles Haley. If they were at home on a non-holiday, it would have been too suspicious. Both Bryce and and Kai were the first to take a front-row seat to see their dad’s reaction when Haley, himself a Hall of Famer, unloaded the knock.

Young was the seventh overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft from Notre Dame. He played 14 seasons, all with the 49ers and won one Super Bowl, filling Haley’s role as a defensive leader after Haley left San Francisco for Dallas. Their paths finally crossed when Haley returned to San Francisco for the 1999 season.

Haley, ever effusive, said he was privileged to get the opportunity to welcome Young into the Hall. When he knocked, he said, “This is the greatest honor of my life to tell you that you are in the Hall of Fame.” With tears in his eyes, he added, “You know, when you get one of these (a Gold Jacket), they can’t take it away.”
 

🎥 Watch Bryant Young's Knock:

Away from the camera, Haley talked about how much comfort Young gave him during the 1999 season and said it has continued as mutual friendship and mentorship ever since.

Young repeatedly said to his family, “You got me,” and at one point his wife leaped into his arms. 

“You are never at a loss for words,” Young told Charles. “This is so humbling. I never let myself expect this, although others told me I would get in. What an honor to be part of this elite group, and I am extremely honored that you, Charles, would take the time. You almost broke down the door.”

When the entire group moved to the back patio, with a pool as a backdrop, for more interviews, one of the most spontaneous and unusual moments in the history of the knocks occurred.

Haley alerted the NFL Network’s Steve Wyche and Young’s wife to his plot. He asked them to set up Young for his interview next to the pool and find a way to remove Young’s phone from his pocket. His wife, Kristin deftly lifted the phone as cameras rolled.

As Haley began the interview with Young, he swiftly grabbed him into a bearhug and swung him into the pool as easily as he threw down opposing offensive players. 

Young took it in the humor of the moment. When he came out of the pool, dripping but with a smile, he said, “You finally got me. … I’ll see you again, Charles! I guess it’s ‘Welcome to the brotherhood.’”

The family gave him and Haley a standing ovation.

Amazingly, with the cameras still rolling, Young finished his poolside interview, thanking every member of the production team.

“Thank you for what you guys (production team) do for covering this so well,” he said.

Front door knock, back patio splash and now centerstage in Canton for Bryant Young.