The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Thursday night at NFL Honors in Las Vegas, and as always, it’s a star-studded group.
Let’s see who gets the gold jacket and, more importantly, who gets the gold bust that will remain in Canton, Ohio forever.
DE Dwight Freeney
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Dwight Freeney, No. 93 of the Indianapolis Colts, watches an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on October 26, 2002 in Landover, Maryland. (Mitchell Leighton/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts legend was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft by Syracuse and was a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro in 16 NFL seasons.
Freeney played for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, but his 11 years in a Colts uniform made him a fixture in the Midwest. He had 107.5 of his 125.5 sacks in Indy and was a key part of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLII championship team.
Freeney finished his career with 148 quarterback hits and 128 tackles for loss, but had 47 fumbles, tied for third all-time in the NFL.
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WR Andre Johnson
Johnson, a feared wide receiver with the Houston Texans, exceeded 1,000 yards seven times in 14 NFL seasons and led the NFL in receptions twice (2006, 2008). He is one of three NFL wide receivers in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons, along with current Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson and Jerry Rice.
Johnson also played in 193 games with the Colts and Tennessee Titans. He had 1,062 career receptions for a total of 14,185 yards and 70 touchdown catches.
PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
Simply put, Hester may be the best returner in football history. His best performance was arguably the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 41, which he won at home even though he lost. He holds the NFL record for career special teams touchdowns with 20, 14 of which came on punts (also a record).
In 2007, he returned four punts and two kicks for touchdowns, the most in a season. Eleven of his special teams touchdowns came in his first two NFL seasons, 2006 and 2007. In 2013 and 2014, he led the NFL in kick return yards with 1,436 and 1,128 yards, respectively.
Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears plays against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Tom Hawk/Getty Images)
LB Randy Gradishar
Gradishar made the Pro Bowl in seven of 10 seasons with the Broncos’ Orange Crush defense. Gradishar was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, was a two-time first-team All-Pro, and his 2,049 (unofficial) tackles are the second-most in NFL history.
LB Patrick Willis
Although he may have left the game early in the eyes of NFL fans, Willis’ impact on the San Francisco 49ers as a leader at middle linebacker was worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame.
All eight of Willis’ seasons were spent in the Bay Area, where he immediately led the NFL with 174 tackles in 2007 and was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year that season.
Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sideline before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park on December 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 40-21. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Willis totaled 950 tackles, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, and 16 forced fumbles during his career.
DE Steve McMichael
McMichael, widely known as “Mongo,” was a two-time first-team All-Pro and won Super Bowl XX with the Chicago Bears.
McMichael’s wife, Misty, was in Las Vegas to mourn her husband, who is battling ALS.
DE Julius Peppers
Peppers made nine Pro Bowls and spent 10 of his 17 Hall of Fame seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Peppers quickly rose to prominence in the league, and UNC (where he also played basketball) made him the No. 2 pick and he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002.
Peppers recorded 159.5 sacks, 82 pass deflections and 52 forced fumbles.
Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor induction during halftime of the Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana Dwight Freeney speaks to fans inside. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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After seven years with the Chicago Bears and three years with the Green Bay Packers, Peppers returned to Carolina for two more seasons. Peppers has only missed six games in his career.
