Greatness in Canton: The Best NFL Hall of Fame Ceremony Moments
(Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
With this year’s NFL Hall of Fame induction quickly approaching this Saturday on August 6th, the National Football League will be honoring the game of professional football’s greatest heroes and legends alike that inspired so many fans on-and-off the field for so many years.
Based in the tiny town of Canton Ohio on 2121 George Halas Drive, there are 354 honored members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since opening up to the public on September 7th, 1963.
After this upcoming Saturday afternoon, 354 will increase into 362 members once the ceremony concludes – As this year’s Class of 2022 is made up of six players, one coach and one referee.
NFL legends like OT Tony Boselli, WR Cliff Branch, safety LeRoy Butler, LB Sam Mills, DL Richard Seymour and DL Bryant Young are heading to the NFL hall of fame this Saturday.
Dick Vermeil enters as a head coach during his years with the St Louis Rams & Philadelphia Eagles, while Art McNally, a former on-field official for 33 years in the NFL, joins the professional football hall of fame as a contributor.
The Hall of Fame Game on Thursday was a great start to this historic weekend. And in this article, we honor the game of professional football greatest Hall of Fame moments. From tears of joy from NFL legends to the smiles that made fans emotional as they realized they’ve reached their childhood dreams and ambitions. This is offGrid NFL’s greatest NFL Hall of Fame moments of all time.
Deion Sanders Induction (2011)
“Primetime” Deion Sanders didn’t disappoint with his Hall of Fame speech, as the 9x all-pro NFL legend emphasized how grateful he was to join such an honorable hall of fame class of 2011, stating that “This game, this game, this game. And I went at this game and attacked this game because I made a promise that I needed this game to fulfill.”
It was a rare side we don’t see from the outspoken NFL legend, the entire spectrum of the event felt so awesome to witness from Mr. Primetime himself.
Deion Sanders Career Achievements: Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award (1994), 8x NFL Pro Bowler, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, 2x Super Bowl Champion (1995 & 1996).
Key quote: “14 years later, that’s why you can’t give up on your dream, your promise, because 14 years later, this dream, this promise came. That I was able to allow my mama to go into a job and say I’m not doing it anymore. My son has blessed me.”
Curtis Martin Speech (2012)
The passionate, heartfelt speech struck a core around the entire NFL world when Curtis Martin was honored into the NFL hall of fame on August 3rd, 2012 — When he praised his mother for helping raise a child in one of the most dangerous communities in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
His speech focused on his mother made audience members and former teammates teary eyed as Curtis stated that he had a very tough upbringing as a child, but he revealed he never dreamt about playing in the NFL.
over time, the effect it made on his life changed not only his life, but his family’s as well. It made him overcome all the sadness in his life to become the man he became today.
Curtis Martin Career Achievements: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1995), First-team All-Pro (2004), 2× Second-team All-Pro (1999, 2001), 5× Pro Bowl (1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004), & the NFL rushing yards leader (2004).
Key quote of the night: “It’s not about what you achieve in life, but who you become during the process of those achievements that matters the most.”
Edgerrin James “Gold Teeth to Gold Jacket” (2021)
Edgerrin’s drive to prove his doubters wrong came to life during his 2021 NFL Hall of Fame class induction ceremony, joking about his dreads and gold teeth, noting that his lifestyle as a black man was just as important as any other human being.
He made the crowd laugh and his mother proud despite past doubts that he would make it this far in life.
Edgerrin James Career Highlights: NFL All-Rookie Team (1999), 2× NFL rushing yards leader (1999, 2000), 4× Pro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2004, 2005), 2× Second-team All-Pro (2000, 2004), First-team All-Pro (1999), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, & NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1999).
Quote of the night: “I’m forever immortalized, locked up in the Canton Correctional Institution. Inmate number 336 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My career started with gold teeth and ended with this gold jacket. Good night and God bless.”
Ray Lewis’ Call for Unity (2018)
Listening to Ray Lewis anytime is a motivational speech waiting to happen, on his hall of fame induction night in 2018, was no different. Ray Lewis message was a call for hope and unity during much divide in the United States at the time, it was truly inspiring to say the least.
Ray Lewis Career Achievements: 3× NFL tackles leader (1997, 1999, 2001), 13× Pro Bowl (1997–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, 3× Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2010), 7× First-team All-Pro (1999–2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009), 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003), & 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXV, XLVII).
Key quote of the night: “Mama taught me God. Mama, you gave me every opportunity. No matter how hard it was, I watched you. And at 10 years old, I made a vow, a man would never put his hands on you again. I made a promise to that. I always had your back. You sacrificed for me. That’s true love.”
‘The Old Gunslinger’ Brett Favre’s Last Hail Mary (2016)
The kid from Mississippi lived his dream as a professional football player, dedicating his hall of fame speech to his father who passed away in 2003, as Brett Favre spoke for an amazing 36 minutes which was longest hall of fame speech ever given at the time.
It was a classic moment for Canton Ohio and proved why Brett Favre was one of the greatest football personalities the game of football has ever seen.
Brett Favre Career Achievements: Super Bowl XXXI champion (1997), 3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1995–1997), NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1995), 3× First-team All-Pro (1995–1997), 3× Second-team All-Pro (2001, 2002, 2007), 11× Pro Bowl (1992, 1993, 1995–1997, 2001–2003, 2007–2009), 4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1995–1997, 2003), 2× NFL passing yards leader (1995, 1998), NFL completion percentage leader (1998), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, & The first quarterback in NFL history to obtain 70,000 yards, 10,000 passes, 6,000 completions, 500 touchdowns, 200 wins, and victories over all 32 teams.
Key quote of the night: “Who would have ever thought that a young man from Kiln, Mississippi, whose father ran the Wishbone would hold every passing record in NFL history at one time? Pretty doggone amazing if you ask me.”
Randy Moss, Straight Facts Homie (2018)
One of the greatest wide receivers the game has ever seen. Randy Moss stated his past mistakes in his Hall of Fame speech and how his belief in God helped him to become a better man. He admitted realizing over the years that football doesn’t define his greatness. But being a good person does.
Randy Moss Career Achievements: 6× Pro Bowl (1998–2000, 2002, 2003, 2007), 4× First-team All-Pro (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007), 5× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1998), Comeback Player of the Year Award (2007), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, & NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Key quote of the night: ”Football is not who I am. Football is what I do.”
Joe Cool delivers again under pressure (2000)
After playing for San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Montana was extremely grateful for the time he spent in the NFL and the amazing human beings he’s met over his time, from former teammate Jerry Rice to 49ers Owner Eddie Debartolo, Joe “cool” Montana was cooler than anyone on that hall of fame stage back in 2000.
Joe Montana Career Achievements: 5× NFL completion percentage leader (1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989), 2× NFL passer rating leader (1987, 1989), 2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1982, 1987), 8× Pro Bowl (1981, 1983–1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993), 2× Second-team All-Pro (1981, 1984), 3× First-team All-Pro (1987, 1989, 1990), NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award (1989), 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1989, 1990), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL’s 75th & 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, & 4× Super Bowl champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV).
Key quote of the night: “And in the middle of the night last night, I woke up. I had a whole other speech prepared. I turned the light on and told my wife Jennifer that I got the meaning, and I got to write it down cause I don’t want to forget it. I‘ve now seen the light, that this is not an ending point, this is a beginning point. This is the beginning of the rest of my life, post-career, with a new team.”
Cris Carter’s Identity (2013)
The absolute consummate professional, Cris Carter back in his Ohio hometown gave a speech that tugged at heartstrings In the audience and around the football world, as the NFL 8x Pro Bowler praised the game of football impacting his life and how he hopes his impact on the game of football going forward can affect others lives to become better people, not only just future football players.
Cris Carter Career Achievements: 3× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1995, 1997, 1999), NFL receptions leader (1994), 8× Pro Bowl (1993–2000), Second-team All-Pro (1995), 2× First-team All-Pro (1994, 1999), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (1999), & NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
Key quote of the night: ”Just like these guys, I love football. I love this game. This game gave me identity. It gave me a sense of purpose. And for an African American man, it’s a great opportunity in America to be able to play football.”
LaDainian Tomlinson equality speech (2017)
One of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Tomlinson’s electric speech proved that all Americans are alike in many ways, and how the effect of football has given people hope to exist together despite society’s differences.
LaDainian Tomlinson Career Achievements: 3× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2004, 2006, 2007), 2× NFL rushing yards leader (2006, 2007), 5× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004–2007), 3× Second-team All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2005), 3× First-team All-Pro (2004, 2006, 2007), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2006),2000s All-Decade Team, NFL Offensive Player of the Year & Most Valuable Player (2006).
Key quote of the night: ”“Football is a microcosm of America. All races, religions and creeds living, playing, competing side by side.”
John Madden’s Magnificent Speech (2006)
Lastly, to the late & great John Madden, who praised the importance of being immortalized into the house of football forever! As Madden stated himself: “They can’t ever take this away from us.”
John Madden Career Achievements: PFW AFL Coach of the Year (1969), AFL champion (1967), NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year (1984), Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award winner (2002), 12-time Emmy Award winner, & Super Bowl champion (XI).
Key quote of the night: ”Stand up, enjoy the moment. This is ours. They can’t take it away from us. They can’t ever take this away from us. Thanks to all of you. The whole bunch of you, I love you. Thank you very, very much.”
On August 6th, starting at 6pm EST, football fans around the globe can be able to express more NFL history by watching the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement only on NFL Network and ESPN this upcoming Saturday night.
