Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates decades of football excellence
Enshrinement
Published on : 6/5/2023
For 60 years, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has honored football’s greatest individuals, celebrating the stories and triumphs of each enshrinee. As the years pass, Enshrinement classes mark anniversaries of their own, much like the Hall.
This year, the Hall is recognizing 10 anniversary classes — a total of 63 Hall of Famers — dating back to the inaugural Enshrinement in 1963.
Through a series of photos and video reels on social media, the 63 Hall of Famers will be recognized in the days leading up to the Class of 2023 Enshrinement.
As the years have passed, Enshrinement has changed to reflect the event’s growth in popularity. The first few enshrinements were held in Fawcett Stadium, now Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The event moved to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and stayed there for several decades. With more interest surrounding Enshrinement and crowds too large to accommodate all of the fans intent on seeing their football heroes in person, the event moved back inside the stadium with the Class of 2002.
Three physical icons represent an individual’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each Hall of Famer receives a Hall of Fame Gold Jacket by Haggar on the eve of the Enshrinement; a Bronzed Bust is unveiled during the Enshrinement; and the Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is presented during a special pregame or halftime ceremony at an NFL stadium associated with the enshrinee in the fall.
The anniversary classes that will be recognized this year include the Classes of 2013 (10th anniversary), 2003 (20th), 1998 (25th), 1993 (30th), 1988 (35th), 1983 (40th), 1978 (45th), 1973 (50th), 1968 (55th) and 1963 (60th).
Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell*, Joe Carr*, Earl “Dutch” Clark, Harold “Red” Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Wilbur “Pete” Henry*, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Earl “Curly” Lambeau, Tim Mara*, George Preston Marshall, John “Blood” McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers and Jim Thorpe*.
Cliff Battles, Art Donovan, Elroy Hirsch, Wayne Millner, Marion Motley, Charley Trippi and Alex Wojciechowicz.
Raymond Berry, Jim Parker and Joe Schmidt.
Lance Alworth, Weeb Ewbank, Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans, Ray Nitschke and Larry Wilson.
Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell and Paul Warfield.
Fred Biletnikoff, Mike Ditka, Jack Ham and Alan Page.
Dan Fouts, Larry Little, Chuck Noll, Walter Payton and Bill Walsh.
Paul Krause, Tommy McDonald, Anthony Muñoz, Mike Singletary and Dwight Stephenson.
Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton and Hank Stram.
Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp.
* Posthumously enshrined.
This year, the Hall is recognizing 10 anniversary classes — a total of 63 Hall of Famers — dating back to the inaugural Enshrinement in 1963.
Through a series of photos and video reels on social media, the 63 Hall of Famers will be recognized in the days leading up to the Class of 2023 Enshrinement.
As the years have passed, Enshrinement has changed to reflect the event’s growth in popularity. The first few enshrinements were held in Fawcett Stadium, now Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The event moved to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and stayed there for several decades. With more interest surrounding Enshrinement and crowds too large to accommodate all of the fans intent on seeing their football heroes in person, the event moved back inside the stadium with the Class of 2002.
Three physical icons represent an individual’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each Hall of Famer receives a Hall of Fame Gold Jacket by Haggar on the eve of the Enshrinement; a Bronzed Bust is unveiled during the Enshrinement; and the Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is presented during a special pregame or halftime ceremony at an NFL stadium associated with the enshrinee in the fall.
The anniversary classes that will be recognized this year include the Classes of 2013 (10th anniversary), 2003 (20th), 1998 (25th), 1993 (30th), 1988 (35th), 1983 (40th), 1978 (45th), 1973 (50th), 1968 (55th) and 1963 (60th).
60th Anniversary – Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963
Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell*, Joe Carr*, Earl “Dutch” Clark, Harold “Red” Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Wilbur “Pete” Henry*, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Earl “Curly” Lambeau, Tim Mara*, George Preston Marshall, John “Blood” McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers and Jim Thorpe*.
55th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1968
Cliff Battles, Art Donovan, Elroy Hirsch, Wayne Millner, Marion Motley, Charley Trippi and Alex Wojciechowicz.
50th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1973
Raymond Berry, Jim Parker and Joe Schmidt.
45th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1978
Lance Alworth, Weeb Ewbank, Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans, Ray Nitschke and Larry Wilson.
40th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1983
Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell and Paul Warfield.
35th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1988
Fred Biletnikoff, Mike Ditka, Jack Ham and Alan Page.
30th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1993
Dan Fouts, Larry Little, Chuck Noll, Walter Payton and Bill Walsh.
25th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1998
Paul Krause, Tommy McDonald, Anthony Muñoz, Mike Singletary and Dwight Stephenson.
20th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2003
Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton and Hank Stram.
10th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013
Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp.
* Posthumously enshrined.
2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame anniversary classes
- Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates decades of football excellence
- Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural Class of 1963 celebrates 60-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1968 celebrates 55-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1973 celebrates 50-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1978 celebrates 45-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1983 celebrates 40-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1988 celebrates 35-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1993 celebrates 30-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1998 celebrates 25-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2003 celebrates 20-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 celebrates 10-year anniversary
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