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CANTON, Ohio — The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed eight new members to football immortality Saturday afternoon. The ceremony, which took place inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, included memorable speeches, tributes, highlights and a few tears from the men receiving their bronze busts and gold jackets.
This year’s class included offensive tackle Tony Bocelli, receiver Cliff Branch, safety Leroy Butler, defensive back Sam Mills, linebackers Richard Seymour and Bryant Young, coach Dick Vermeil and official Art McNally. Boselli is the first Jaguar player to earn a Hall of Fame jacket. Like Boselli, Mills represented a team — the Carolina Panthers — that made the league in 1995. Branch, Butler, Seymour, Young and Vermeil come to Canton with nine Super Bowl rings. McNally was brought in after a decorated career that includes the creation of instant replay.
Here are the highlights from today’s ceremony, starting with one of the most popular Packers in franchise history.
LeRoy’s jump in Canton
A standout safety for the Packers, Butler is credited with the first “Lambeau Leap” in 1993. His versatility helped the Packers defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, Green Bay’s first title in 29 years. Butler began his speech in a unique way. He quoted musician DJ Khaled, who went down well with the crowd.
Later in his speech, Butler referred to his former Packers coach, Mike Holmgren, who is a finalist for induction into next year’s class.
Mills continues to pound
Inducted posthumously, Mills anchored the Saints’ “Dome Patrol” defense before helping the Panthers to an NFC Championship Game appearance in 1996. That season, the 37-year-old linebacker became the oldest player ever named to the Pro Bowl. Mills’ mantra was “keep hitting,” a battle cry the Panthers use to this day.
Former Saints coach Jim Mora served as one of Mills’ presenters. Mora shared his memory of watching the 5-foot-9 Mills break the conversation during his rookie season. Mora admitted he was scared for Mills before watching him make a tackle moments later while shedding a blocker who was at least 100 pounds heavier.
“I’ve coached the Saints for nine years,” Mora said, “and I’ve never been short again.”
Mills’ acceptance speech was delivered by his wife, Melanie, who offered insight into the man Mills was off the field.
“Sam treated everyone with the respect and dignity they deserved,” she said. “He would ask about your day and listen, because he cared.
“Keep hitting, everyone, because that’s what Sam would have you do.”
Seymour praises Bill Belichick, makes HOF push for Robert Kraft
An integral member of the early 2000s Patriots dynasty, Seymour is the first player drafted by Bill Belichick to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
“You’re the best coach in the game,” Seymour said of Belichick. “Thank you for everything you taught me.”
Seymour paid tribute to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is a finalist for the Hall of Fame class of 2023. Seymour said Kraft fostered a selfless culture focused on team success.
“And you will grace this stage,” Seymour told Kraft, who was sitting in the audience.
Seymour follows former New England teammates Ty Law, Randy Moss and Junior Shaw to Canton. More Patriots, including former New England QB Tom Brady, are sure to follow.
“We had a young quarterback,” Seymour said of Brady during his speech when discussing the Patriots in the early 2000s. “But we made it work.”
McNally is making history
Known as the founder of modern officiating, McNally spent 48 years in the NFL as an official, including a successful run as the league’s supervisor of officials. He is the first former official to be enshrined in Canton.
McNally, who watched the ceremony from home, recorded an acceptance speech that included his appreciation for NFL officials. He also joked about how officials usually don’t want any attention, but today was apparently an exception.
“That’s the biggest thing, I think, for an official: Do the job — hopefully nobody even knows you’re around — to make the calls the right way with a big dose of common sense.”
“QB” Tony Boselli
One of the greatest tackles in league history, Bocelli shared that he had other football aspirations during his childhood.
“I wanted to be a quarterback in the NFL,” said Boselli, who specifically wanted to play QB for the Broncos. That dream ended quickly, as Boselli was transferred to junior straight and water boy for varsity.
“But I was a damned good boy,” Bocelli said with a smile.
Instead of serving water, Boselli served opposing quarterbacks their lunch during high school, at USC and during his Hall of Fame career with the Jaguars.
While not inducted as a quarterback, Boselli’s Jacksonville QB, Mark Brunell, served as its presenter.
“He wanted to completely dominate the opponent,” Brunell said of Boselli. “He was a tough competitor and wasn’t going to let anyone get to the quarter. He made us all better.”
Boselli is very proud to be the first Jaguars player to enroll in Canton. He made a push for former teammates Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith and Tom Coughlin to join him in Canton.
Young honors his late son
During his speech, Bryant Young spoke about his son, Colby, who passed away in 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. Young reacted to the emotions as he spoke to his son.
“Colby, you live in our hearts,” Young said. “We will always say your name.”
Young’s path to the Hall of Fame hit a major crossroads in 1998. Then, in his fifth season with the 49ers, Young suffered a serious, career-threatening leg injury. Despite the significance of the injury, Young persevered and played nine more seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999, a year after the injury. A member of the 1990s All-Decade Team, Young helped the 49ers win the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl during his rookie season.
“I’ve worn the gold proudly my entire career,” said Young, who before the 49ers played collegiately for Notre Dame. “I will love this jacket for the rest of my life.”
Branch brings speed to Canton
Branch becomes the seventh member of the 1974 Raiders offense to be enshrined in Canton, an NFL record for a single unit. Branch, who died in 2019, was a valuable member of all three of the Raiders’ Super Bowl championship teams. His unmatched speed helped him earn All-Decade team honors for the 1970s.
Branch’s sister, Elaine Anderson, delivered his commencement speech. Raiders owner Mark Davis also served as an emcee for Branch, calling him “my best friend.”
“When it’s not God’s time, you can’t force it,” Anderson said in her speech. “When it’s God’s time, you can’t stop it.
“Clifford was late, but not denied.”
Branch’s teammate, fellow Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff, was on hand to celebrate Branch’s induction.
“The lord finally has some speed there,” Biletnikov said before Branch’s introduction.
Dick Vermeil praises others for induction
Few managers have been so good at turning losing teams into winners. Vermeil ended a 12-year playoff drought in Philadelphia before leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl. After a long hiatus from coaching, Vermeil led the Rams — who lost more games in the 1990s than any other team — to a memorable Super Bowl run in 1999. He then ended the Rams’ seven-game playoff drought. Chiefs leading Kansas City to a 13-3 season in 2003.
Instead of celebrating himself, Vermeil thanked everyone who helped him win a gold jacket. He specifically mentioned the player whose tackle at the end of that greatest victory contributed to his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“If Mike Jones doesn’t make the tackle at the end of Super Bowl XXXIV, I’m not standing here,” Vermeil said. “I will forever be indebted to all of you people.”
A former high school coach, Vermeil pointed out members of his high school team in attendance that he coached more than 60 years ago.
“I still call them kids, today they are in their seventies,” he said.
Vermeil also pointed to Torry Holt, who was part of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf.” Vermeil stated that Holt would one day join him and former Rams teammates Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace and Isaac Bruce in Canton.
From his Eagles years, Vermeil paid tribute to Wilbert Montgomery and John Bunting, former players who later served as coaches under Vermeil. Vermeil also thanked Eagles fans for supporting him both near and far. He thanked current Chiefs coach Andy Reid for traveling to Canton to congratulate Vermeil even though he was in the middle of training camp.
A notorious crier, Vermeil didn’t cry until he talked about his wife, Carol. He purposely waited until the end of his speech to eulogize his wife of 66 years, knowing she would shed tears.
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