Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates decades of football excellence

Enshrinement Published on : 6/28/2024
For more than 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 of Fame is recognizing 10 anniversary classes — a total of 50 Hall of Famers — dating back to 1964.

Through a series of photos and video reels on social media, the 50 Hall of Famers will be recognized in the days leading up to the Class of 2024’s big weekend.

As the years have passed, the look of the annual ceremony 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 festivities and crowds too large to accommodate all 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 Gold Jacket created by Haggar on the eve of the Enshrinement; a Bronze Bust is unveiled during Enshrinement; and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence created by Kay Jewelers is presented in the fall during a special pregame or halftime ceremony at an NFL stadium associated with the enshrinee.

The anniversary classes that will be recognized this year include the Classes of 2014 (10th anniversary), 2004 (20th), 1999 (25th), 1994 (30th), 1989 (35th), 1984 (40th), 1979 (45th), 1974 (50th), 1969 (55th) and 1964 (60th).


60th anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1964

Jimmy Conzelman*, Ed Healey*, Clarke Hinkle*, Roy "Link" Lyman*, Mike Michalske*, Art Rooney*, George Trafton*.


55th anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1969

Albert Glen “Turk” Edwards*, Earle “Greasy” Neale*, Leo Nomellini*, Joe "The Jet" Perry*, Ernie Stautner*.


50th anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Tony Canadeo*, Bill George*, Lou Groza*, Dick “Night Train” Lane*. 


45th anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1979

Dick Butkus*, Yale Lary*, Ron Mix, Johnny Unitas*.


40th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1984

Willie Brown*, Mike McCormack*, Charley Taylor*, Arnie Weinmeister*.


35th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1989

Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Art Shell, Willie Wood*.


30th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1994

Tony Dorsett, Bud Grant*, Jimmy Johnson*, Leroy Kelly, Jackie Smith, Randy White.
 

25th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999

Eric Dickerson, Tom Mack, Ozzie Newsome, Billy Shaw, Lawrence Taylor.
 

20th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004

Bob Brown*, Carl Eller, John Elway, Barry Sanders.


10th Anniversary — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014

Derrick Brooks, Ray Guy*, Claude Humphrey*, Walter Jones, Andre Reed, Michael Strahan, Aeneas Williams.

(* — Deceased.)


2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame anniversary classes