Artifacts from two players, one coach arrive at Hall of Fame

After etching their names in the NFL record books this season, Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay, Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy now have artifacts on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Accounting for 16 of the Colts 22 points in a Week 3 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Gay became the first kicker in NFL history to convert four field goals of 50-plus yards in the same game. The record-setting performance saw Gay score a 54-yard try and three from 53 yards, including the game winner. Gay also scored the PAT for the Colts’ lone touchdown and a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. 

With 57 seconds left in regulation and the game on the line, Gay tied the game at 19-19 with a 53-yard field goal. In overtime, both teams failed to score on their first two drives, going three-and-out and turning the ball over on downs. Indianapolis got the ball back and with 1:09 left in the extra frame, Gay set the Colts home with a win, converting another 53-yard score. 

Gay is the fifth kicker to convert a game-tying field goal in the final two minutes of regulation and kick a game-winning field goal in overtime that both exceeded 50 yards, joining Matt Bryant (Sept. 7, 2014), Matt Prater (Dec. 11, 2011), Mike Vanderjagt (Nov. 24, 2002) and Greg Zuerlein (Dec. 2, 2012).

Gay’s game-worn jersey and a “K-Ball” (footballs used for kicking) from Week 3 are featured in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”

Through five starts, Stroud began his career with a streak no other quarterback had accomplished. 
 
The streak continued into Week 6, reaching 191, when Stroud threw his first interception. 

In five games, Stroud totaled 1,461 passing yards, becoming the fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,400 passing yards and no interceptions in his team's first five games of a season, joining Patrick Mahomes (1,831 passing yards in 2019), Drew Brees (1,658 in 2018) and Russell Wilson (1,409 in 2019). 

A game-used football from Stroud’s record-setting performance has been placed on display at the Hall. 
 
With a 20-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on ‘Monday Night Football,” McCarthy passed Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant on the all-time wins list. The Week 6 victory marked No. 159 for the Cowboys signal caller, who began his 17th year coaching in 2023. 

Alongside Gay and Stroud’s artifacts, a game-used ball from McCarthy’s 159th victory is featured in Canton.