Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004 celebrates 20-year anniversary
Hall of Famers
Published on : 7/23/2024
On an August afternoon in 2004, four individuals were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, marking the first class comprised solely of first-round picks.
Offensive tackle BOB “THE BOOMER” BROWN, defensive end CARL ELLER, quarterback JOHN ELWAY and running back BARRY SANDERS celebrate their 20-year anniversary.
Labeled “the most aggressive lineman who ever played” by Hall of Fame JOHN MADDEN, Brown overwhelmed opponents for 10 seasons in the NFL. Selected in the first rounds of both the AFL and NFL drafts, he began his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles. After spending five seasons in Philadelphia, he finished his final five between the Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders, earning at least one Pro Bowl selection with each team. Nicknamed “The Boomer,” he focused on fourth-quarter results, utilizing a relentless physical approach to his line play to wear down opponents over 60 minutes. Brown’s play earned him the title of NFL/NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year on three occasions and seven first-team All-NFL selections from numerous outlets. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.
Another player selected in the first rounds of the AFL and NFL drafts, Eller played 15 of his 16 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, totaling 225 career regular-season games. Entrenched at left end with the legendary “Purple People Eaters” alongside fellow Hall of Famer ALAN PAGE, he earned various first- or second-team All-Pro selections every year from 1967-1973. Eller was a key member of the Vikings’ division title run, assisting them to 10 NFL/NFC Central Division crowns in 11 seasons, including the 1969 NFL Championship. He played in all four of Minnesota’s Super Bowl appearances. Eller’s 133 (unofficial) sacks and 23 opponent fumble recoveries – third most at the time of his retirement – helped place him on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
A master of comebacks, Elway led the Denver Broncos to a record 47 fourth-quarter rallies during his 16-year tenure with the team. Selected first overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Elway was traded to the Broncos six days later. Earning his first of nine Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 1987, Elway was also honored as the league’s Most Valuable Player. Elway retired in style. In his final two seasons (1997-98), his leadership put the Broncos in the history books as one of nine teams to win back-to-back Super Bowls in NFL history. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII in his final game. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Elway ranked second all-time in passing yards (51,475), attempts (7,250) and completions (4,123) at the time of his retirement.
At the time of his retirement, Sanders held nearly every Detroit Lions rushing record. Selected third overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, he finished his rookie season with 1,470 rushing yards, a then-Lions record and only 10 yards shy of the season leader. Sanders continued to climb, topping the league four times in his career, and becoming the first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons. In an impressive 1997 season, he rushed for over 100 yards in a record 14 consecutive regular-season games. Totaling over 2,000 on the year, he earned the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. Sanders’ 15,269 career rushing yards, 109 touchdowns and six Associated Press first-team All-Pro selections cemented his place on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
Offensive tackle BOB “THE BOOMER” BROWN, defensive end CARL ELLER, quarterback JOHN ELWAY and running back BARRY SANDERS celebrate their 20-year anniversary.
Labeled “the most aggressive lineman who ever played” by Hall of Fame JOHN MADDEN, Brown overwhelmed opponents for 10 seasons in the NFL. Selected in the first rounds of both the AFL and NFL drafts, he began his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles. After spending five seasons in Philadelphia, he finished his final five between the Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders, earning at least one Pro Bowl selection with each team. Nicknamed “The Boomer,” he focused on fourth-quarter results, utilizing a relentless physical approach to his line play to wear down opponents over 60 minutes. Brown’s play earned him the title of NFL/NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year on three occasions and seven first-team All-NFL selections from numerous outlets. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.
Another player selected in the first rounds of the AFL and NFL drafts, Eller played 15 of his 16 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, totaling 225 career regular-season games. Entrenched at left end with the legendary “Purple People Eaters” alongside fellow Hall of Famer ALAN PAGE, he earned various first- or second-team All-Pro selections every year from 1967-1973. Eller was a key member of the Vikings’ division title run, assisting them to 10 NFL/NFC Central Division crowns in 11 seasons, including the 1969 NFL Championship. He played in all four of Minnesota’s Super Bowl appearances. Eller’s 133 (unofficial) sacks and 23 opponent fumble recoveries – third most at the time of his retirement – helped place him on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
A master of comebacks, Elway led the Denver Broncos to a record 47 fourth-quarter rallies during his 16-year tenure with the team. Selected first overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Elway was traded to the Broncos six days later. Earning his first of nine Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 1987, Elway was also honored as the league’s Most Valuable Player. Elway retired in style. In his final two seasons (1997-98), his leadership put the Broncos in the history books as one of nine teams to win back-to-back Super Bowls in NFL history. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII in his final game. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Elway ranked second all-time in passing yards (51,475), attempts (7,250) and completions (4,123) at the time of his retirement.
At the time of his retirement, Sanders held nearly every Detroit Lions rushing record. Selected third overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, he finished his rookie season with 1,470 rushing yards, a then-Lions record and only 10 yards shy of the season leader. Sanders continued to climb, topping the league four times in his career, and becoming the first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons. In an impressive 1997 season, he rushed for over 100 yards in a record 14 consecutive regular-season games. Totaling over 2,000 on the year, he earned the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. Sanders’ 15,269 career rushing yards, 109 touchdowns and six Associated Press first-team All-Pro selections cemented his place on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame anniversary classes
- Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates decades of football excellence
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1964 celebrates 60-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1969 celebrates 55-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1974 celebrates 50-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1979 celebrates 45-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1984 celebrates 40-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1989 celebrates 35-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1994 celebrates 30-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999 celebrates 25-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004 celebrates 20-year anniversary
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 celebrates 10-year anniversary
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