It’s the ultimate individual honour that a professional football player can earn - being enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame.
In order to make it to Canton, Ohio, players must have enjoyed careers in which they were consistently at the top of the sport and been the best of the best.
The latest batch of inductees were confirmed prior to Super Bowl LVIII and have all been patiently awaiting their induction ceremony, which takes place on Saturday, following Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game, the traditional preseason opener. DAZN takes a look at who is heading into the Hall of Fame this weekend.
Dwight Freeney (Colts, Chargers, Cardinals, Falcons, Seahawks, Lions)
The dominant edge rusher made his name with the Indianapolis Colts, using his speed and agility to be the perfect complement on the other side of the ball to Peyton Manning. Won a Super Bowl ring in 2006 and ended his career with 125.5 sacks, which ranks 18th of all time.
Randy Gradishar (Broncos)
One of the NFL’s dominant linebackers during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gradishar was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 for his role at the heart of the team’s iconic ‘Orange Crush’ defence.
Julius Peppers (Panthers, Bears, Packers)
A physical force unlike anything the NFL had seen at the time, Peppers soon lived up to his billing as one of the most imposing pass rushers of his era. Was named to nine Pro Bowls during a remarkable 17-season career, during which he clocked up 159.5 sacks, a total bettered by only three other players.
Patrick Willis (49ers)
Although he had a shorter career than most in the Hall of Fame, Willis hung up his cleats while still at the top of his game, earning seven Pro Bowl nods and six All-Pro call-ups in his eight years in the NFL. A sideline-to-sideline linebacker who consistently dominated the field
Steve McMichael (Patriots, Bears, Packers)
An anchor of the mid-80s Chicago Bears defensive that is widely considered the greatest of all time. McMichael has had to bide his time to be selected for the Hall and was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, but will now finally be honoured.
Devin Hester (Bears, Falcons, Ravens, Seahawks)
The greatest return man in NFL history, Hester provided some of the NFL’s most eye-catching highlights during his ten-year career. His 20 career punt and kickoff returns are the most in the league’s history and unless this season’s kick-off rule revolutionises the play, this record may never be broken. An opening kickoff touchdown return in Super Bowl XLI was his signature moment.
Andre Johnson (Texans, Colts, Titans)
The Texans’ first bone fida superstar was a powerful and precise route runner, who bucked the trend of the era’s ‘diva’ wide receivers, instead getting on with his work with the minimum of fuss. Given the teams he played on, ending his career as the 11th all-time leader in receptions, is a remarkable achievement.
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