Winston Hill

Winston Hill
6'4" 270
Offensive Tackle
New York Jets
1963 - 1977
15 Seasons
198 Games Played
174 Consecutive Starts
8 Pro Bowls
AFL All-Time Team


Winston Cordell Hill was a 11th round draft pick by the Baltimore Colts in the 1963 NFL draft. He was the 145th player chosen overall. Hill went to Texas Southern University, where he was an All-American player who played along the line on both offense and defense. Hill is a member of the Texas Southern Sports Hall of Fame.

The Texas Southern roster was stacked with great players at the time. Many went on to play professional football. Men like Charlie Frazier, W.K. Hicks, Willis Perkins, Art Strahan (the uncle of future Hall of Famer and Texas Southern Alumni Michael Strahan), Warren Wells, Andy Rice, B.W. Cheeks, Gene Jeter, and Hill's close friend Homer Jones, who invented the spiking of the ball after a touchdown.

The Colts had just drafted future five-time Pro Bowler left tackle Bob Vogel in the first round, and would later draft future Colts greats like Willie Richardson, Jerry Logan, and Hall of Famer John Mackey. Hill decided to join the New York Jets of the American Football League.

He quickly found himself starting at left tackle for the Jets. He missed one game that season, but would never miss another game in his entire time in New York. Though the Jets struggled in his first few years, Hill made the Pro Bowl in just his second season.

Fortunes began to change for the better with the Jets in 1965. They drafted future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. With Hill protecting the blindside of "Broadway Joe" under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Weeb Ewbank, Namath was able to throw often to Hall of Fame wide receiver Don Maynard and Jets greats like George Sauer, Emerson Boozer, and Matt Snell.

As the Jets had the first winning season in franchise history during 1967, Hill would begin a string of seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. This highlight of his career came in 1968, when the Jets defeated the Colts in Super Bowl III.

Not only was Hill excellent at pass blocking, but he was also dominating when the Jets ran the ball. The Jets had just coaxed six-time Pro Bowl guard Bob Talamini, who had already won two AFL Championships with the Houston Oilers, out of retirement for one year to play next to Hill. The Jets won 11 games that year, a total they would not match again until 1985.

Hill was seemingly indestructible in an era where blockers were at the mercy of defenses. Blockers in that era were not allowed to extend their arms like they do today, forced to tuck their hands by their chest to resemble a chicken wing. This did not prevent Hill from starting in 174 straight games.

He manned left tackle until 1976 for the Jets. Namath decided to join the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, and he got his good friend and protector to go with him. Hill suited up for three games that year, but decided to retire after the third game.

Not only did Hill help bring the Jets their only championship in franchise history, but he helped make Namath a star. Namath led the league in passing yards three times, including the first 4,000-yard passing season in professional football history.

There is no question that Hill is the greatest blocker in Jets history, and many of the teams fans would tell you he is also the best player the franchise has ever had as well. His eight Pro Bowls are the most in team history, and his 174 consecutive starts are ranked tenth best in pro football history.

Hill is a member of the AFL Hall of Fame and AFL All-Time Team, as well as an inaugural member of the Jets Ring of Honor. Namath, Ewbank, Maynard, and Curtis Martin joined him in the ceremonies.

The disrespect of the AFL is quite evident by his exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Of the 10 offensive linemen on the AFL All-Time Team, which also includes Talamini, only Ron Mix, Billy Shaw, and Jim Otto are inducted. Only 12 of the 48 players on the AFL All-Time Team are members of Canton's exclusive club.

How the voters keep overlooking the AFL can only be attributed to lingering envy and anger that the NFL had for the league when it existed. The AFL played an exciting brand of football and won two of the four Super Bowls between the leagues, including the last two, before the merger of the AFL and NFL was completed. Not bad for a league the NFL liked to call a "Mickey Mouse League" before being forced to merge to save their own product.

Yet it all started with Hill's Jets shocking the football world by soundly defeating the supposedly heavily-favored Colts. Though most recall Namath guaranteeing a win before he game, it is unlikely he would have made such a boast if Hill was not there to protect him.

It is obvious Winston Hill should be inducted into Canton. His eight Pro Bowls are proof, and it must be noted he went to four Pro Bowls after the merger too. This proves not only was he amongst the best in AFL history, but he was one of the very best in all of professional football.

The New York media is given a lot of hype for creating hype for their local teams, but they have dropped the ball here. They need to honor their past better and make a bigger push for Hill to finally get his rightful respect and place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.





Notable Players Drafted In 1963 * Denotes Hall of Fame Inductee

NFL

2. Jerry Stovall, S, Saint Louis Cardinals
5. Bob Vogel, OT, Baltimore Colts
6. Lee Roy Jordan, MLB, Dallas Cowboys
7. Pat Richter, TE, Washington Redskins
8. Kermit Washington, CB, San Francisco 49ers
13. Don Brumm, DE, Saint Louis
14. Dave Robinson, OLB, Green Bay Packers
17. Bob Reynolds, OT, Saint Louis
18. Ray Mansfield, C, Philadelphia Eagles
19. John Mackey, TE, Baltimore *
21. Walt Rock, OT, San Francisco
35. Ron Snidow, DE, Washington
44. Paul Flatley, WR, Minnesota
47. Jerry Logan, S, Baltimore
88. Lee Roy Caffey, OLB, Philadelphia
89. Willie Richardson, WR, Baltimore
102. Tom Woodeshick, FB, Philadelphia
129. Jackie Smith, TE, Saint Louis *
136. Bill Nelsen, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
152. Karl Kassulke, S, Detroit Lions
157. Chuck Walker, DT, Saint Louis
220. Andy Russell, OLB, Pittsburgh
241. Larry Stallings, OLB, Saint Louis
259. Jim Turner, K, Washington
278. Homer Jones, WR, New York Giants

AFL

1. Buck Buchanan, DT, Kansas City Chiefs *
2. Walt Sweeney, OG, San Diego Chargers
4. Dave Behrman, C, Buffalo Bills
8. Ed Budde, OG, Kansas City
9. Jim Dunaway, DT, Buffalo
21. Tom Janik, S, Denver Broncos
46. Sam Silas, DT, Boston Patriots
48. George Saimes, S, Kansas City
49. Dave Costa, DT, Oakland Raiders
50. Mickey Slaughter, QB, Denver (Notable College Coach)
56. Bobby Bell, OLB, Kansas City *
60. Hewritt Dixon, RB, Denver
85. Billy Joe, RB, Denver
88. Jerrell Wilson, RB / P, Kansas City
188. Daryle Lamonica, QB, Buffalo
192. Dave Hill, OT, Kansas City
211. Dave Herman, OG, New York Jets
219. Mike Taliaferro, QB, NY Jets

2011 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class : NFL Voters Wake Up And Almost Get It Right

Some of my regular readers know I have a series of articles, Crazy Canton Cuts, that is dedicated to gridiron greats not yet inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When I first started my series, the first player I profiled was Washington Redskins legend Chris Hanburger. Not only was I astonished and irked by his exclusion, I decided to try to find a way to get him his overdue respect. The year was 2008 and I quickly found several fans who agreed with me.

I was interviewed for an article on the Washington Times by legendary sportswriter David Elfin. Elfin was raised in the District of Columbia are and was a true Redskins fan. In fact, Elfin led the charge to get Art Monk, a great Redskins wide receiver, finally inducted just a few years ago. Having him as an ally in my mission proved to be immeasurable.

I found it strange that Hanburger had barely scratched the selection process when eligible. His nine Pro Bowls were the most in the illustrious history of the Redskins, let alone the most by any player not yet inducted. He also was named First Team All-Pro four times and had set a record for fumble returns for touchdowns when he retired.

Nicknamed "The Hangman", Hanburger was the first linebacker in NFL history who could beat you by blitzing or covering a pass. Former Pro Bowl running back Calvin Hill told me how he use to marvel at the athleticism Hanburger possessed. Hill said Hanburger frequently jumped over him with ease during a blitz, was strong, and was surely the fastest linebacker in the NFL in his era.

Saint Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith battled Hanburger twice a year for many seasons. He called Hanburger the poster boy of the modern day weak side linebacker. "Linebackers were big strong guys, not very mobile and geared more to stopping the running game" before Hanburger revolutionized the position.

He weighed about 220 lbs much of his career, but was said to near 200 by the time he retired in 1978. His lack of weight did not prevent him from being stout against the run nor unstoppable when charging in on a blitz. But his athleticism wasn't what made him special. His intelligence put him over most every player in the league. He played in an era where the coaches weren't barking into a microphone to a headset in a helmet of a player, telling them what to do step by step.

The captain of the Redskins defense, he knew over 300 audibles and Hall of Fame head coach George Allen demanded more. Allen was a defensive guru that would spend hours in the film room with Hanburger and the defense. As former Redskins safety Rickie Harris put it, "You had to not only know your responsibilities, you had to know the exact location and responsibilities of the other 10 guys on defense. He was the smartest player I ever played with."

Some theorize his journey into Canton took so long because he was a team player who preferred to differ to his teammates rather than accept any personal glories. He would do his job and go straight home to his wife and kids instead of hanging around talking to reporters. All of the former Redskins players and coaches I talked to said he was a serious man of no nonsense. Reporters perhaps thought he was grouchy, but Hanburger's only mission was to help the team win then go home to his loved ones.

Talking to his son, Chris Jr., it seems his dad has been enjoying his retirement years amongst family. Now he is being pulled out of his comfort zone to give a speech in Canton, which will probably encompass how great his teammates, coaches, and opponents were, then having to be interviewed on television during the Hall of Fame Game.

His family is most likely more ecstatic to see this long overdue honor happen more than Hanburger, though his son suspects deep down his father is appreciate and happy. Redskins Nation is celebrating, because they know the importance Hanburger holds. Older fans might be especially happy, yet most have told their offspring of the greatness of Chris Hanburger.

It was nice to finally see the voters realize it as well. In my research, I had talked to a few other than Elfin. One senior voter did not even know what position Hanburger played, even though the Pro Bowl was an earned honor in those days. Your peers, the ones who truly know who was the best of the best, voted you in as opposed to the fan vote now that seems to cheer on the loudmouths best known for antics over actual gridiron play.

The game was regional back then. The technology did not allow for the immense coverage it has today. A voter would be lucky to see a player on an opposing team, from another division, once a year. If that player was in another conference, it would be a blessing to catch him at least once. It was as if the only voters who knew of Hanburger's greatness had to cover teams in the NFC East, where the Redskins play.

This also happened to Les Richter, the other Seniors Committee nominee inducted this year. Not only did he go to the Pro Bowl eight times as a linebacker, he also was the place kicker of the Los Angeles Rams for many years. He was once traded for 11 players, which surely says how good Richter was. I profiled him long ago in my Crazy Canton Cuts series and mourn the fact he has passed away and will not be in Canton to enjoy his long overdue respect.

There were four other players included into the induction class this year. Richard Dent, another Crazy Canton Cuts subject, finally went in. The former Chicago Bears defensive end is certainly worthy, but I think of equal or better defensive ends still waiting. Men like Jim Marshall, Claude Humphrey, and Coy Bacon, just to name a few.

Shannon Sharpe went in, which was a foregone conclusion. He was not much of a blocker as a tight end, but he had sure hands and was durable. Not nearly as good as his brother Sterling, he deserved entry even if he did play in the era of inflated statistics. Jerry Smith, another Crazy Canton Cuts subject, invented that style of play as a tight end, and retired with several records. Though I wish he was inducted, the homophobia of the league will probably prevent it.

Marshall Faulk is a running back I have no issues with as far as induction goes. I honestly though Curtis Martin, another finalist, was at least equal. Perhaps Martin will go in next year.

Deion Sanders was an exciting return man and special on man-to-man coverage. Kickers were better tacklers than him, but he didn't have to do much of it when the ball was in the air because it wasn't coming his way. I have profiled a gaggle of cornerbacks not yet in Canton, and I can name one equal to Sanders in coverage and returns, if not better, but certainly better as a tackler. How Lemar Parrish sits outside of Canton while Sanders goes in bewilders me.

Ed Sabol's induction was the right thing in the wrong way. His inclusion steals a spot from a player, whgich should not happen. The father of NFL Films, Sabol helped build a lot of the lore now associated with the game. He should have went in, but not at the expense of an actual player. How can the voters blow off a Ray Guy, saying punters aren't worthy, yet vote in a guy who sat on the sideline in a coat and tie holding a camera?

Chris Hanburger Of The Washington Redskins Is On The Cusp Of Immortality

The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters meet on February 7, 2011. In the group of players that they will decide from, Washington Redskins legend Chris Hanburger, a Seniors nominee, could very well find himself being inducted into the heralded walls of Canton.

Some of you may recall my quest to get Chris his long overdue respect. His nine Pro Bowls are the most in Redskins history, and his four First Team All-Pro honors is tied with the legendendaty "Slingin" Sammy Baugh as the most in franchise history. He was also named 1972 Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL 101 Committee.

I wanted to give you real Redskins and NFL fans a gift. I spent months talking to players and coaches Chris played against or with. They graciously gave me quotes and letters, which I compiled into a package and submitted to the Seniors Committee of the Hall of Fame a few months ago.

For those who saw Hanburger play, none of these quotes will surprise you. For those younger fans oblivious to his greatness, this may help educate you on the impact Chris Hanburger had on the game of football while wearing a Redskins jersey.

Please enjoy :



JACKIE SMITH
Tight End
1963 - 1978
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1994

As tight end playing for St. Louis and in the same division as the Redskins,
I played against Chris twice a season for quite a few years. When I first
started playing, linebackers were big strong guys, not very mobile and
geared more to stopping the running game.

Chris should be the "poster boy" for the new era of linebackers that could
not only be effective against the run, but equally effective against the
pass. His combination of strength and speed made it very difficult to block
him or even get position on him. His ability to anticipate and then react
allowed him to knock down passes in the intermediate distances and make
tackles on the opposite side of the field.

He had to be the first linebacker to broaden the scope of the linebacker and
increase the expectations of other teams of their linebackers.

I seriously doubt if I ever effectively blocked Chris. My guess is I only
got in his way for a split second, because he was intent on being where the
ball was on every play.

He was a player all teams had to prepare for...or at least try to.

Added to his great skill is another important aspect of Chris Hanburger. We
need to remember the gentlemen that played this game. These are players that
played the game with their heart because they appreciated the opportunity
and wanted to do their best. They modestly reflect on their accomplishments
simply because they would not have been satisfied with less.

Chris Hanburger belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.








Joe Gibbs
Former Head Coach, The Washington Redskins
1981 - 1992, 2004 - 2007
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1996

When Chris was an active player, I coached against him when I was an
assistant coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. When we prepared our game plans,
we always considered how Chris might react against our plays. We considered
him to be an exceptional player and we always took that into consideration
during our game planning. He was an all around player who made the most of
his abilities. He was tough and smart – two player qualities that I always
wanted in my players.

Even though I never coached Chris, I have respect for him as a person and a
football player. He is a big part of the Washington Redskins history.






Tony Liscio
Offensive Tackle
Dallas Cowboys
1963-71

With great pleasure I would like to tell what a great football player Chris
Hanburger

was for the Washington Redskins Football Team during his professional
career.

During my 9 years as an offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys I had many

opportunities to block Chris, which was a very hard task for anyone.


His knowledge of the game and exceptional speed made him a difficult target
to block.

Coach Tom Landry would always point out the ability that Chris had and would

emphasize the need to block him on every play. There was only a few players

that we would call out for special attention and Chris Hanburger was one of
them.


We played back in the days when we played with pride and dignity and no one

displayed this better than Chris Hanburger. He is a credit to the NFL and a
honored

member of the retired players who played with and against him.


Chris Hanburger is genuinely worthy of induction into the NFL Hall Of Fame.

His long Pro Bowl career where he was chosen by his peers speaks for itself.

This shows what his opponents thought of him.

This is the kind of player we need in Canton, OH.







TED MARCHIBRODA
Quarterback/ Coach
1953 - 1998

Chris is the type of individual that belongs in the Hall of Fame. He would
be a good fit, he really, really would.

He was spectacular, but you would never know by his personality. He did his
job and went about his work, every week, every day. Chris was a team player
all the way.

He was just a great person, a tremendous athlete and of great, great
character. He was a very intelligent linebacker and moved very well. At
that time, he was probably faster than most linebackers. He was very
serious, serious in life and serious in football.







RUSTY TILLMAN
Linebacker
1970-1978

To who it may concern,

This letter is a vote for Chris Hanburger to be inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame.

While other Redskins have been inducted, Chris went to the pro-bowl 9 times;
more than any other Redskin. Light for a linebacker (220), his play was year
in and year out at the top of the NFL.

Chris made up for his lack of size with extreme quickness and textbook
tackling. He was undoubtedly the quickest linebacker off the ball that I
have ever seen.

He also did a fantastic job in pass coverage being able to cover excellent
backs one on one.

And something that is frequently overlooked was his ability to call defenses
on the field. I doubt seriously that any defensive player nowadays had the
ability to look at a formation and to get the defense into the right call
99% of the time.

Chris was a leader by example and shunned the limelight. He was strictly a
team guy.

If the committee to elect will look into his playing career, they will see
exactly what I am talking about.









GEORGE ALLEN
Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia 1994-1998
U.S. Senator, 2001-2007

“Chris Hanburger was a perfectionist and an always prepared leader and
captain of my father’s Redskins Defense. Chris Hanburger was consistently in
great physical shape, mentally tough and prepared, having meticulously
studied opposing offenses. He was always in position to make a play or break
a QB’s nose if he ventured into Chris’s territory.

“Because of his leadership and outstanding record of play, Chris Hanburger,
a quiet man, surely deserve strong consideration for the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. He was a premier LB during his playing days as his record shows,
including numerous Pro Bowl appearances.”






JOHN E. McVAY
Coach
1976 - 1978
1989 NFL Executive of the Year

Chris Hanburger played on those great Redskins teams, and for a super coach
in George Allen. The fact that Chris was a perennial Pro-bowler should help
his cause greatly. He was truly one of the best LBs in the league.

Chris was a little undersized but was very productive and could cover
receivers out of the backfield with ease. I remember him as being
outstanding, on a team loaded with great players.







MYRON POTTIOS
Linebacker
1961 - 1973

To :Senior Committee HOF

Gentlemen:

I am sending this letter to you to recognize and give Chris Hanburger his
place in the HOF

In my thirteen years playing in the NFL I had the honor to play with ten
teammates that are in the HOF. Chris has the qualities that all of these ten
Hall Of Famers possess.

1. Leadership on the field

2. 9 Pro Bowls

3. Longevity – 14 yrs







WILLIE J. YOUNG
Offensive Tackle
1966 - 1975

Dear Sirs:

As a former professional football player, I would like to recommend Chris
Hanburger, to the National Football Hall of Fame.

Chris possesses all of the qualities a talented athlete should have in order
to receive this prestigious recognition. Chris is a valuable asset to the
sport of football. He is a professional person on and off the playing field.
Teammates and friends compliment his character of not just a player but
also, as an outstanding man.

You'd be hard pressed to find a player who was more dedicated than Chris,
and I recommend him as a rock solid addition for this outstanding honor.






DIRON TALBERT
Defensive Tackle
1967 - 1980

I FIRST MET CHRIS AT A MINI CAMP IN WASHINGTON DC. I HAD JUST BEEN TRADED TO
THE SKINS FROM THE LA RAMS ALONG WITH JACK PARDEE, MAXIE BAUGHN AND OTHERS
INCLUDING RICHIE PETTIBONE.

I WAS DEFENSIVE RIGHT TACKLE AND I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE CHRIS ON THE RIGHT
LINEBACKER. I HAD WATCHED HIM PLAY FOR A FEW YEARS, AND I KNEW HE WAS THE
BEST IN THE LEAGUE.

ALWAYS A GOOD LEADER, OUR DEFENSIVE CAPTAIN AND DEFENSIVE GENERAL ( SIGNAL
CALLER ).

HE MADE BIG PLAYS, AND WAS THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER ON OUR TEAM FOR ALL THE
YEARS I PLAYED THERE.

WITH 9 PRO BOWL APPEARANCES, AND ALL THE OTHER CREDENTIALS, THERE IS NO
DOUBT THAT CHRIS HANBURGER BELONGS IN THE NFL HALL OF FAME ALONG WITH MY
GOOD FRIEND KENNY HOUSTON.

I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS WITH THE SENIOR COMMITTEE IF NEEDED.











MIKE DITKA
Tight End
1961 – 1972
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1988

Chris was a hell of a player. He could beat you with finesse. He was always
in position, and was smart and quick. He also could use power.

He was quiet and did his job, having a great career without the attention he
deserved.

People get too caught up in statistics. He knocked me on my ass.

When I was in Dallas, Coach Landry would always tell us to watch him.

He belongs in the Hall Of Fame.





CHARLIE SANDERS
Tight End
1968 - 1977
Hall Of Fame Inductee 2007

Chris was smart. He was a real student of the game, and studied his opponents. He had a nose for the ball, and was very hard to block. He always gave me a headache.





RAYMOND BERRY
Wide Receiver/ Coach
1955 – 1967, 1968-1992
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1973

He should be in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Nine Pro Bowls speaks for themselves.

I remember one play I caught a pass, and Hanburger absolutely blasted me. As he was laying on me, I fixed my helmet, looked at him and asked, “Are you OK?” Hanburger looked at me stunned by the question.





SONNY JURGENSEN
Quarterback
1957 – 1974
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1983

Chris Hanburger is the smartest linebacker to ever play in the NFL. He was a
coach on the field.

Chris belongs in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. His nine Pro Bowls is proof.




JOE DeLAMIELLUERE
Offensive Guard
1973 – 1985
Hall Of Fame Inductee 2003

You cannot talk about the NFL, in the 1960’s and 1970’s, without talking
about Chris Hanburger. He had more heart than anyone in the game.

Do not judge a book by its cover. He played like a giant.

I cannot believe he is not in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame!




Roger Staubach
Quarterback
1969 - 1979
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1985

Chris was an outstanding linebacker in the NFL. Even though we had our great rivalry and I didn't like the Redskins, I respected him.


John Hannah
Offensive Guard
1973 - 1985
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1991

He was, at that time, the smartest player in the league. We did everything we could to try to eliminate him from the play. We knew if we didn't neutralize him, then we had less of a chance of winning.



Larry Csonka
Fullback
1968 - 1979
Hall Of Fame Inductee 1987

Chris Hanburger was a fine and dedicated player who certainly has the qualifications to be seriously considered for induction in to the Pro Football of Fame.


Dave Wilcox
Linebacker
1964 - 1974
Hall Of Fame Inductee 2000

Chris belongs in Canton. His nine Pro Bowls is proof.




MAXIE BAUGHAN
Linebacker
1960 – 1970, 1974

Hanburger very much should be in Canton. There are less qualified player
than him already in.

He played to win, and was smart. He was seldom fooled, and he played even
when he was injured.






CHARLE YOUNG
Tight End
1973 – 1986

Chris Hanburger was one of the best. It takes an All-Pro, such as myself, to
know another All-Pro.

He was the toughest linebacker I ever went against in my career.

He was extremely difficult to block, and he was never out of position. He
was a smart, hard working player who got the job done.

He could read you. He knew what you were going to do before you did.





HOMER JONES
Wide Receiver
1964 – 1970

I feared Chris Hanburger much more than Dick Butkus, or any other linebacker
in the NFL. He could run with me, and he could hit very hard. He was also
very smart.

Chris Hanburger deserves entry into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.








NORM BULAICH
Fullback
1970 – 1979

Chris Hanburger should be in Canton. The voters must wake up. He went to
nine Pro Bowls!

Voters do not realize how hard it is to just make an NFL team, let alone be
voted to the Pro Bowl by your peers.

He is at the top of my list of linebackers I played against in my career.

I respected him. He had great football sense. He was very fast, and hard to
block. His knowledge of defense was excellent, and he always got to the
ball.






PAT RICHTER
Tight End/ Punter
1963 – 1970

Chris is the most intelligent, intense, and disciplined player I have ever
been around. He had his game face on 24/7. He was a great leader, and I
liked having him lead our team.

He was active, tough, quick, and very hard to fool.








KEN GRAY
Offensive Guard
1958 – 1970

Chris Hanburger deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. He was a
great player. It is sad he has been overlooked all of these years.






JERRY SISEMORE
Offensive Tackle
1973 – 1984

He was one of the best, and never got the credit he deserved. He ran the
defense for the Redskins, and changed the way defenses were operated.

He had the respect of every member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was smart,
and he would wear us out. I was always chasing him, but never caught him. I
used to watch him in amazement.






HERB MUL-KEY
Running Back
1972 – 1974

Chris Hanburger was the first defensive quarterback ever in NFL history.
Coach George Allen put him in charge of the defense, and he was never out of
position.

He was an invincible warrior, and his nine Pro Bowls were voted by his
peers. There is no way that Chris Hanburger should not be in Canton.





JIM OTIS
Fullback
1970 – 1978

I cannot believe Chris Hanburger is not in Canton already!

He was outstanding. Intelligent, sneaky, and unblockable. He always was
ready to play, and did everything a great linebacker is supposed to do.









JIM HANIFAN
Coach
1973 – 2003

Chris Hanburger played a mistake free game. He just never made mistakes. Don
Coryell, Joe Gibbs, and I would game plan on him, but it did not work.

He was intelligent and excellent. He deserves induction into Canton. .

I will always remember one particular game. George Allen had Hanburger
reading the hand signs Gibbs and I was flashing to Jim Hart, our
quarterback. Hanburger kept making play after play, destroying our game
plan. I got so mad. On the next play, I saw Hanburger looking over at our
sideline. I flashed him the middle finger, which caused Hanburger’s jaw to
drop as he looked at me in disbelief. I still laugh today at this memory.






SONNY RANDLE
Wide Receiver
1959 – 1968

Chris Hanburger is as fine a linebacker who has ever played. It is a mystery
as to why he has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame yet.





CALVIN HILL
Running Back
1969 – 1981

The best outside linebackers I ever faced were Chris Hanburger, Jack Ham, and Chuck Howley. It was Hanburger, however, who gave me the most trouble and taught me the most. Hanburger made me a better player.

He was scary.

He was the guy who captained the Redskins defense, and called their signals. I hardly ever beat him, and it usually took me all game just to beat him on a play.

You never knew when he was going to blitz, and he often jumped over me on a blitz. He was smart, and gave you different looks. He was a nightmare to oppose.

You would just hope to try to beat him some of the time. He was slippery, and was resourceful. He was difficult to beat athletically, because he was such a great athlete. He was great at the point of attack.

He could really run, and was fluid in his flow. You had to game plan specifically against him, because you knew he was a top opponent.

When I was with the Redskins, he was a great teammate. He was really great in practice also.

He was a big play guy who defined the WLB position. There is a reason he was a Pro Bowl player nine times.

The fact he is not in Canton shows the voters do not understand how good he was.





BRIG OWENS
Safety
1966 – 1977

Chris Hanburger is one of the all-time greats. He was a strong leader both on and off the field.

It is inexcusable that he has yet to be mentioned for induction. He went to nine Pro Bowls, the most in franchise history.

He knew how to read plays. He would argue with Sam Huff in the huddle over what play to call, which kept the team loose.

He was a great friend and teammate.








PRESTON PEARSON
Running Back
1967 – 1980

I had lots of clashes on the gridiron with him, and I never looked forward to opposing Chris Hanburger. He was an all around linebacker.

He was studied, and he knew his opponents. He was always well prepared.

Not only was he very smart, but he was a hard-hitting linebacker. He was really, really tough. He deserves induction.









ERNIE McMILLAN
Offensive Tackle
1961 – 1975

Chris Hanburger was a force that was a factor on every play. He deserves entry into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

You had to watch him play in order to consider him. He was smart and reliable.








BRAD DUSEK
Linebacker
1974 – 1981

Chris taught me everything I know how to play linebacker.

He was our “one” general on the team. He knew over 300 audibles for our defense.

He was modest, smart, quick, and fast. He was always one step ahead of the opponents. He had this amazing ability to read the eyes of running backs. He had a sixth sense.

Chris Hanburger should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.








AUTREY HOWELL
Offensive Tackle
1963 – 1969

Chris Hanburger belongs in Canton.

He was very smart and had great speed. His strength was his ability to diagnose a play.






LEN HAUSS
Center
1964 – 1977

I was Chris Hanburger’s roommate for eight seasons on road games. He was always a smart player, and one of the hardest hitting players in the league.

He had a quiet, business like approach. He was not a “look at me” type of player, meaning he would never blow his own horn. He put the team first.

He would study the opponent’s non-stop. He knew the opposition, and was excellent at studying their tendencies.

He was a great player, and a team player. He deserves to be in Canton.




BILL ARNSPARGER
Coach
1964 – 1994

Chris Hanburger deserves induction into Canton.

He was a complete linebacker who I respected. He was a winner who could beat you in several ways.








RICKIE HARRIS
Defensive Back
1965 – 1972

Chris Hanburger was the smartest player I ever played with. I really respected him.

He taught me how to read a defense, and he often covered me on the field. He was so smart; you knew you could depend on him to play a defender. It made my job easier.

Our defense was dependent on him to get us in the right position. He was regimented on defensive duty, and knew all of our assignments.

He could run with everyone in the NFL, and he often covered wide receivers on pass plays. He is also one of the best blitzers I ever saw play.

Chris Hanburger was a great player, and he deserves induction into Canton.









ARCHIE MANNING
Quarterback
1971 - 1984

I had the opportunity to play against Chris Hanburger several times.

Although small, he was an outstanding NFL linebacker.

He was equally good versus the run and pass and was one of the chief reasons the Redskins were so good during that era.





CHARLIE HARRAWAY
Fullback
1966 – 1973

Chris was very smart. He knew the game, and the game plan. He was always in position, and knew his assignments. He was prepared.

Hanburger was quick and elusive, and made blockers miss. He had good finesse. He was a great teammate, level headed, and was never in a fracas.





WADE KEY
Offensive Guard/ Tackle
1970 – 1979

Chris Hanburger deserves induction.

Look at his nine Pro Bowls. He is a more complete linebacker than guys who are already in Canton.

He was a fantastic linebacker. He supported the run and pass with excellence.







VINCE PROMUTO
Guard
1960 – 1970

Chris was a team player, and not arrogant. He was really bright, fast, and tough. He came to play every day, was durable, and highly respected in the locker room.

He was a student of the game, and would learn from Sam Huff often.

Chris was a great linebacker, and he should be inducted into Canton.






RAY SCHOENKE
Offensive Guard
1963 – 1975

Chris Hanburger is one of the best linebackers I ever saw play the game.

He was tremendously quick. No one could block him.

He was great defending the run and the pass, and was also excellent at rushing the passer.






RON SNIDOW
Defensive End
1963 – 1972

I highly recommend Chris Hanburger being inducted into Canton.

He deserves it. He was dynamic and enthusiastic.






CARL KAMMERER
Defensive End/ Linebacker
1961 - 1969

Chris was a sure tackler, and a devastating blindside hitter on the blitz.

On certain plays, we would switch responsibilities. He would blitz, and I would watch for the pass.

He loved to hit right-handed quarterbacks.

He was also a great human being.






MACK ALSTON
Tight End
1970 – 1980

Chris was a great leader. He was the captain of the defense.

He was smart, and could diagnose a play in a hurry. He studied film non-stop.

Chris was tough, strong, quiet, and he was also a heck of a guy.

If he said something, while watching film with the team, you knew something was very, very wrong in the way we executed a play.






RON McDOLE
Defensive End
1961 – 1978

Chris Hanburger was the best player we had on the Redskins.

He was the captain of the defense, and ran the show.

He deserves induction into Canton.






GEORGE STARKE
Offensive Tackle
1973 – 1984

There has never been a finer linebacker in the history of the NFL than Chris Hanburger.

There was also none neither smarter nor tougher than him either.

I cannot see why he is not in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.






JOE RUTGENS
Defensive Tackle
1961 – 1969

Chris was smart, fast, and hit hard.

He deserves consideration for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.








Facts :



Chris Hanburger
Washington Redskins
Linebacker
6'2" 220
1965 - 1978
14 Seasons
187 Games Played
19 Interceptions
17 Fumble Recoveries
5 Touchdowns
9 Pro Bowls
4 First Team All-Pro Teams
1972 NFL 101 NFC Defensive Player of the Year

Christian G. Hanburger was an 18th round draft choice of the Redskins in 1965. He was the 245TH player chosen that year. He was a 25 year old rookie, due to his service in the Army before going to the University of North Carolina.

At UNC, he was a 2 way player who was named All ACC at Center his junior and senior years. In 1963, his team won the ACC Championship.

Hanburger played right away and was in the Pro Bowl by his second year in the league. He would then begin a string of Pro Bowl appearances until 1969.

He then resumed that string in 1972 until 1976.

Sacks and tackles were not recorded in those days, but Hanburger was a playmaker.

He is considered one of the best of his era. He was known for his blitzing ability and pass coverage.

Ever the complete player, he returned three fumbles for touchdowns, the third most in NFL history, in his career to go with two more on interceptions.

In 1972, Hanburger captained the Over The Hill gangs defense to a Super Bowl appearance and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL 101 Club.

Hanburger was known not only for good speed, but his exceptional intelligence and quickness.

He had the innate ability to diagnose a play before the ball was hiked. He often would cover the other teams tight end and peel off to knock passes down meant for wide receivers.

Hall Of Fame coach George Allen liked to leave Hanburger in charge of the play calling on defense, and named his team captain for many seasons.

Chris Hanburger's nine Pro Bowl appearances are still the most by any player in the entire history of the Washington Redskins.

His four First Team All-Pro honors are tied with Hall Of Famer Sammy Baugh as the most in team history.



Please compare Chris Hanburger's achievements and all around game to some other linebackers already inducted into Canton.

Of the 18 linebackers that are inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, only seven are outside linebackers like Hanburger.

As you will be able to see, Hanburger exceeds or equals all of these football legends in several categories.


ANDRE TIPPETT
11 Seasons
1 Interception
19 Fumble Recoveries
2 Touchdowns
5 Pro Bowls
2 First Team All-Pro



DERRICK THOMAS
11 Seasons
1 Interception
19 Fumble Recoveries
4 Touchdowns
9 Pro Bowls
2 First Team All-Pro


LAWRENCE TAYLOR
13 Seasons
9 Interceptions
11 Fumble Recoveries
2 Touchdowns
10 Pro Bowls
8 First Team All-Pro



BOBBY BELL
12 Seasons
26 Interceptions
9 Fumble Recoveries
8 Touchdowns
9 Pro Bowls
6 First Team All-Pro



TED HENDRICKS
15 Seasons
26 Interceptions
16 Fumble Recoveries
2 Touchdowns
8 Pro Bowls
4 First Team All-Pro



DAVE WILCOX
11 Seasons
14 Interceptions
12 Fumble Recoveries
2 Touchdowns
7 Pro Bowls
2 First Team All-Pro


JACK HAM
12 Seasons
32 Interceptions
21 Fumble Recoveries
1 Touchdown
8 Pro Bowls
6 First Team All-Pro

Harold Jackson

Harold Jackson
5'10" 175
Wide Receiver
Los Angeles Rams
Philadelphia Eagles
1968 - 1983
16 Seasons
208 Games Played
579 Receptions
10,372 Yards Receiving
76 Touchdowns
5 Pro Bowls

Harold Leon Jackson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 12th round of the 1967 NFL Draft, the 323rd player chosen overall. He was just the 11th of a now 56 players drafted from Jackson State University. There have been 92 players from the school to have played pro football so far.

Led by Hall of Famers Walter Payton, Jackie Slater, and Lem Barney with other gridiron legends like Robert Brazile, Coy Bacon, Speedy Duncan, Leon Gray, Wilbert Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, and Rickey Young. Jackson's five Pro Bowls are only exceeded by Payton, Slater, and Barney, and matched by Smith.

He only appeared in two games during his rookie season, not recording a statistic. The Rams then dealt him to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 1968 season, where he would soon be known throughout the league. He was their only offensive Pro Bowler, and one of the three they had that year.

On a Eagles team that struggled to four wins, he caught nearly half of starting quarterback Norm Snead's passing yards and touchdowns with an NFL leading 1,116 yards and 9 scores on a career best 65 receptions. His career best 79,7 receiving yards per game also led the league.

The Eagles struggled in mediocrity the next two years, and juggled Snead, Pete Liske, and Rick Arrington at the quarterback position. They ran the ball mostly, and Jackson caught 88 balls for eight scores over that time. He exploded in 1972 with another Pro Bowl season, leading the NFL with 62 receptions, 1,048 receiving yards, and 74.9 receiving yards per game.

The Rams decided they wanted Jackson back, so they traded three time Pro Bowl quarterback Roman Gabriel for him. The trade benefited both teams, as both men made the Pro Bowl that year with their new teams.

Jackson accrued his only First Team All-Pro honor as well that season, leading the NFL with a career high 13 touchdown catches with a career best 21.9 yards per catch on 40 receptions. One game saw him score four times on seven receptions for 238 yards that year.

He stayed a productive deep threat for the Rams over the next four years, making the Pro Bowl in 1975,, averaging over 16 yards per catch on 160 balls. He made his last Pro Bowl in 1977, then joined the New England Patriots the next year.

He added another component to an explosive Patriots passing attack led by quarterback Steve Grogan with wide receiver Stanley Morgan and tight end Russ Francis. They were called "Grogan's Heroes".

Jackson averaged over 20 yards per catch in three of his four years in New England. Though Grogan never earned a Pro Bowl nod, he enjoyed the finest years of his career with the trio. Morgan also averaged over 20 yards each year, going to a pair of Pro Bowls. Francis was a top tight end during that era, having made his third and final Pro Bowl squad that year. The team was in the top ten in the league in offensive yards and points in Jackson's first three years with the team.

Now 36-years old, he joined the Minnesota Vikings in 1982. It was the only year he did not have the number 29 on his jersey, and it proved to be a jinx. He was hurt in the first game, not getting any statistics and missing the rest of the year. He then joined the Seattle Seahawks the next year, catching eight passes before retiring at seasons end.

He was back in uniform in 1987 with the Patriots at the age of 41. The NFL players had went on strike, so New England asked him to suit up for two games. Though he was their receivers coach, he obliged but did not appear in a game.

In the decade of the 1970's, no other player caught more balls for more yards and more touchdowns than Harold Jackson. His feat is even more of an amazing accomplishment, considering he had over 14 different quarterbacks throwing him the ball in his career on some teams that generally struggled at that position.

He helped Pat Haden make his only Pro Bowl, helped John Hadl make his last and his only First Team All-Pro honor. He caught some of Hall of Famer Joe Namath last passes, and improved the games of Grogan, Liske, James Harris, and John Reaves.

Most people look at his career average of 17.9 yards per catch, or the fact he averaged over 20 yards four times, and assume Jackson was strictly a deep threat. While he was torturous on defensive backs on the long ball, he also ran precision routes and had excellent hands.

Of the four wide receivers that were chosen on the NFL's 1970's All-Decade Team, only two are in Canton. Not only did Jackson outperform them with catches, yardage, and touchdowns, but he averaged more yards per catch than any of them. The closest to him is Hall of Famer Lynn Swann and fellow All-Decade selection Drew Pearson with their 17.1 yards per catch. Pearson played seven years that decade, Swann had six. Jackson averaged 18.2 over the entire ten years.

One probable reason for his not being chosen was the fact he played on just a few teams that made the playoffs a few times. Mostly his teams struggled, where he was all they had as a deep route threat. He often was met with double teams in an era where the ten-yard chuck was legal, thus making it much more difficult to get open. Teams also generally had their defensive backs play man-to-man, another way making getting open much harder in the ten-yard chuck rule era.

If Jackson got to play in this era of zone defenses and the 5-yard chuck rule, you could easily pump up his career statistics to even more astonishing numbers. Yet with all the rules since 1979 that helped the offense, he still ranks 29th in NFL history in receiving yards, 23rd in career yards per touch, and 24th in receiving touchdowns.

Though the casual football viewer might see him as a sexy choice, and the voters in Canton have not really voted much for him since his retirement, the numbers do not lie. The newer fan might not appreciate his numbers, not understanding the game or the rules of his era.

The fact he still ranks 67th on the All-Time receptions list in NFL history shows his productivity and that he was more than a deep threat. Some critics might point to his five Pro Bowls not being enough, but Jackson played in an era where your peers voted him in. Not a computer generated fan vote like today that is a popularity contest seemingly based more of histrionics than actual football play.

Of the 19 wide receivers inducted into Canton, only eight have appeared in more Pro Bowls than Jackson. What got many of those with lesser Pro Bowls inducted was the fact they played on teams that won championships. This is a debate on whether a teams accomplishments should be part of the reasoning for induction or if a players actual individual accomplishments on the gridiron constitutes worthiness.

If he had played on just one championship team, the theory that Harold Jackson already being a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame seems fathomable. Cliff Branch, though somewhat comparable to Jackson but with lesser numbers, played on three championship teams and came fairly close to induction a few times.

Perhaps it is time to look more at what the player does with what he has to work with around him, than what his team does while with him. Harold Jackson most certainly belongs in Canton.

Notable Players Drafted In 1968 (* Denotes Hall Of Fame)

1. Ron Yary, OT, Minnesota *
2. Bob Johnson, C, Cincinnati
3. Claude Humphrey, DE, Atlanta
4. Russ Washington, DT/ OT, San Diego
8. Larry Csonka, FB, Miami *
9. Haven Moses, WR, Buffalo
11. Greg Landry, QB, Detroit
13. MacArthur Lane, RB, St. Louis Cardinals
14. Tim Rossovich, LB, Philadelphia
15. Forrest Blue, C, San Francisco
23. John Williams, OT, Baltimore Colts
26. Bill Lueck, G, Green Bay
31. Curley Culp, DT, Denver
33. Charlie West, DB, Minnesota
42. Bob Atkins, DB, St. Louis
43. Bill Lenkaitus, C, San Diego
47. John Garlington, LB, Cleveland
48. Mike Livingston, QB, Kansas City
52. Ken Stabler, QB, Oakland
69. Skip Vanderbundt, LB, San Francisco
73. Dick Anderson, DB, Miami
74. Charlie Sanders, TE, Detroit *
77. Elvin Bethea, DE, Houston Oilers *
80. Art Shell, OT, Oakland *
81. Dick Himes, OT, Green Bay
82. Paul Robinson, RB, Cincinnati
84. Jess Phillips, RB, Cincinnati
98. Johnny Fuller, DB, San Francisco
105. Jim Beirne, WR, Houston
110. Charlie H. Smith, RB, Oakland
117. Mike Bragg, P, Washington
118. Jim Kiick, RB, Miami
124. Mark Nordquist, G, Philadelphia
127. Cecil Turner, WR, Chicago
130. Blaine Nye, G, Dallas
156. Essex Johnson, RB, Cincinnati
159. D.D. Lewis, LB, Dallas
167. Oscar Reed, RB, Minnesota
176. Bob Brunet, RB, Washington
181. Willie Holman, DE, Chicago
190. George Atkinson, DB, Oakland
222. Paul Smith, DT, Denver
249. John Outlaw, DB, Boston Patriots
261. Tommy Hart, DE, San Francisco
275. Greg Brezina, LB, Atlanta
277. Marv Hubbard, RB, Oakland
288. Henry Davis, LB, New York Giants
289. Rich Coady, C, Chicago
291. Dennis Partee, K, San Diego
297. John Pergine, LB, Los Angeles Rams
301. Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati
305. Jim Cheyunski, LB, Boston
317. Jeff Queen, RB, San Diego
330. Charlie Greer, DB, Denver
351. Dean Halverson, LB, LA Rams
357. Marlin Briscoe, WR, Denver
375. Robert Holmes, RB, Kansas City
417. Rocky Bleier, RB, Pittsburgh
428. Larry Cole, DE, Dallas
441. Bob Lee, QB, Minnesota

Randy Gradishar

Randy Gradishar
6'3" 233
Middle Linebacker
Denver Broncos
1973 - 1984
12 Seasons
145 Games Played
20 Interceptions
4 Touchdowns
Seven Pro Bowls
1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year


Randolph Charles Gradishar was drafted in the first round of the 1973 draft by the Denver Broncos. He was the 14th player chosen overall. He attended college at Ohio State University under legendary coach Woody Hayes. Hayes, who sent over 98 players to the professional football level in his Hall of Fame career, called Gradishar the finest linebacker he ever coached.

In his three years as a Buckeye, starting in every game, he set then-school records for 320 tackles in a career and 134 in one season. He was ejected in the 1971 game against rival Michigan University, causing a ten minute brawl after he punched a Wolverine in the face. It happened one play after a famous meltdown by Hayes, where the coach threw a penalty flag and yard marker he had previously destroyed after being thrown out of the game himself.

Not only is he a member of the schools All-Century Team and their Hall of Fame, but Gradishar is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. An excellent student in college, he is also inducted into the GTE Academic Hall of Fame and is on the ABC Sports All-Century team.

Denver brought him along slowly in his rookie year, starting just three of 14 games behind veteran Ray May. May was the 1971 NFL Man of the Year and a member of the Super Bowl V champion Baltimore Colts.

He started every game the next year, the last season the Broncos would run a base 4-3 defense during his tenure with the club. He was named to the Pro Bowl after grabbing three interceptions and taking one in 44 yards for a touchdown. He scored once again the following year off of another three picks and had seven quarterback sacks.

Denver went into the 1977 season running the 3-4 defense under coach Joe Collier. With players like Gradishar, Louis Wright, Tom Jackson, Bill Thompson, Reuben Carter, Bob Swensen, Lyle Alzado, and Barney Chavous, the Broncos had one of the most feared defenses in all of football history.

They were dubbed the "Orange Crush", and a soft drink named after them soon became very popular. Five members of the defense was named to the Pro Bowl that year and four were named First Team All-Pro, including Gradishar. They led Denver to a 12-2 record and an appearance in Super Bowl XII. Though they lost the game, the defense left a permanent mark on NFL history with their excellence by allowing just 10.6 points per game that year.

Gradishar may have had his finest season the following year, where he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and UPI. He also was named the winner of the George Halas Award and Linebacker of the Year by Football Digest. Denver's defense was second in the league in points allowed, and Gradishar was one of five Bronco defenders to go to the Pro Bowl.

Football Digest named him NFL Linebacker of the Year again in 1979 despite not starting in one of the 16 games he played. Other than his rookie season, it was the only game in his career he failed to start. He was once again selected to the Pro Bowl.

Though he failed to make the Pro Bowl in 1980, he did take one interception a career long 93 yards for the last touchdown of his career. He was also named First Team All-NFL by the Sporting News.

Gradishar then made the Pro Bowl the next three years before retiring after the 1983 season. He never missed a game in his entire career, an amazing feat for someone playing such a violent position where he had to give up his body on virtually every play to prevent the opponents from success.

Not only was he durable, very intelligent, quick on his feet, and a big hitter, but Gradishar was also a masterful technician. He had the innate ability to diagnose a play and was seldom fooled. This, along with his foot speed, allowed him to defend just about any opponent on a pass play. This ability allowed Denver the luxury of blitzing their outside linebackers, knowing he could cover their assignments.

His specialty may have been the short yardage situation. With a superb ability to sift would-be blockers, he often filled the holes the opposing running backs would run to. Though he didn't have the toothless snarl of Jack Lambert or easily seen nastiness of Dick Butkus, he was just as good as those two Hall of Famers.

Some of the best running backs in NFL history, Walter Payton and Tony Dorsett, are on record espousing his tremendous hitting ability. "The chance for a real good shot comes very seldom, but when it's there I take full advantage of it." Gradishar once said.

There have been few linebackers to take the gridiron on his level. He is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Why he has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is beyond bewildering. He has been a finalist twice and a semi-finalist four times.

Now he is in a gigantic pool of candidates in the Seniors Committee list. Though he should have long been inducted before he made it that far, he is caught in a quagmire of a selection process where no more than two candidates yearly can just make it to the final vote process.

It would behoove Canton to double that, allowing the Seniors Committee to try to induct at least four each year. The backlog of excellent players is too long, and it is frustrating seeing lesser modern players go in as superior players are caught in a numbers crunch that is much harder to win than a slots machine jackpot.



Watching a player as great as Randy Gradishar wait this long to get his deserved respect truly shows the ineptness of the Canton voter. Though no one can question the recent inductions of linebackers like Andre Tippett, Ricky Jackson, and Derrick Thomas, no one would ever say that any were better football players than Gradishar. Though deserving, it is a travesty the much more deserving Gradishar continues to wait on his rightful placement in the hallowed walls of Canton.



Notable Players Drafted In 1974 (* Denotes Hall of Famer)

1. Ed "Too Tall" Jones, DE, Dallas
5. John Dutton, DT, Baltimore Colts
19. Henry Lawrence, OT, New Orleans
21. Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh *
24. Roger Carr, WR, Baltimore
34. Steve Nelson, MLB, New England
35. Keith Fahnhorst, OT, San Francisco
45. Dave Caspar, TE, Oakland *
46. Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh *
49. Delvin Williams, RB, San Francisco
51. Matt Blair, LB, Minnesota
53. Danny White, QB, Dallas
78. Nat Moore, WR, Miami
82. John Stallworth, WR, Pittsburgh *
87. Mike Boryla, QB, Cincinnati
88. Frank LeMaster, LB, Philadelphia
109. Henry Childs, TE, Atlanta
116. Steve Odom, WR, Green Bay
125. Mike Webster, C, Pittsburgh *
169. Efren Herrera, K, Dallas
199. Eddie Brown, S, Cleveland
365. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, WR, Houston Oilers

Jim Tyrer

Jim Tyrer
6'6" 280
Offensive Tackle
Kansas City Chiefs
1961-1974
14 Seasons
194 Games Played
9 Pro Bowls
6 First-Team All-Pro
AFL All-Time Team



James Efflo Tyrer was drafted in the third round of the 1961 American Football League draft by the Dallas Texans, the first draft the league ever held. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He was also drafted in the 14th round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

He had been a two-time All-American at Ohio State University and was the co-captain of teams that played in two Rose Bowl games. He was also named a College All -Star as a senior. He was a quick learner who earned a starting job by his sophomore season on teams that featured future NFL legends like Dick Schafrath, Jim Houston, Dick LeBeau, and Bob Vogel, as well as several other players who later played pro football. Tyrer is a member of the school's "O" Hall of Fame.

Tyrer was named the starting left tackle immediately by the Texans, now in their second year of existence under the leadership of future Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram. The Texans would go on to win the AFL Championship in 1962, as Tyrer was named to his first of nine straight Pro Bowl honors.

Hall of Fame owner Lamar Hunt, a founder of the AFL, was unhappy with attendance despite winning the title. Though he wanted to keep the team in Dallas, he decided to move the Kansas City and rename them the Chiefs because he was tired of sharing the same stadium, the Cotton Bowl, with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and suffering from low attendance figures.


Tyrer was unaffected by the transition, as he received the first of six straight First-Team All-Pro nods in 1965, establishing him as the top left tackle in all of professional football.

The Chiefs would win the 1966 AFL title, but it was also the first season the AFL and NFL decided to hold a championship game between the two leagues. Kansas City faced the Green Bay Packers of the NFL but lost the game 35-10.

In 1967, Hunt was watching his children play with a toy called a Super Ball. He then had the idea of calling the AFL and NFL title game the Super Bowl. The Chiefs would reach this game in 1969, the last one player between AFL and NFL teams before the two leagues merged. It was also the season where Tyrer was named the AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. Kansas City would win Super Bowl IV, dismantling the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. It has, so far, been the last Super Bowl in which the Chiefs have appeared.

Tyrer missed two games in 1973 for the first time in his career. His string of 180 straight games played is the third-longest streak in club history, and he started in each one of them.. Kansas City thought the 34-year old was nearing the end of his career because he had finished his second season where he failed to make the Pro Bowl. They traded him to the Washington Redskins.

He played in every game for the Redskins in 1974, though he mainly served as a back up to Ray Schoenke. He did, however, start in one game. Washington won their division, but were bounced from the playoffs in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. Tyrer decided to retire at the end of the year.

Despite being the best left tackle in AFL history, he has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though he was a finalist once in 1981, no player in the history of professional football has more accolades than Tyrer and has failed to be inducted.


One reason may be because of the reason he died in 1980. Suffering from depression, Tyrer committed suicide after killing his wife. Though depression was not much of a subject to speak about in that era, it is as though the Hall of Fame voters have kept him out of Canton due to perhaps their lack of knowledge of this subject.



In recent years, professional football has almost begrudgingly acknowledged depression and the fact that it can occur after severe head trauma over a long period of time. "Post Concussion Syndrome" is the commonly used term and these effects have been brought to light by gridiron legends who have suffered from it following their football careers.


Hall of Famers like John Mackey and Mike Webster are two who have suffered from this type of trauma. A game thought to be so violent that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was recently seen on television contemplating banning the three-point stance from the game in an attempt to reduce head injuries.

Tyrer played in an era where offensive linemen were instructed to use their heads as weapons. They were told to bury their heads into the chests of defenders first. This was also an era where offensive linemen were not allowed to use their hands like they do in the current game. They had to put their arms in the shape of a chicken wing, as they relied on quick feet and strong shoulders to take control of their opponents.

Opposing defensive ends were allowed to use their fists back then, and the head slap move was perhaps the most used method to beat blockers. While unable to defend themselves, offensive linemen lead with their heads as they had been taught. Defenders would attempt to counteract this by dodging blockers, then slapping them upside their heads to get the blocker off balance. In doing so, they were given a clearer path to those who possessed the football.

Though Tyer regularly faced the opposing teams' best pass rushers, he was unflappable and consistent. Men like Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea, Rich "Tombstone" Jackson, Larry Eisenhauer, and Ben Davidson were just a few of the stellar defensive ends he faced each week for several seasons.

Davidson is the man who Tyrer admitted was the toughest opponent he faced. The respect was mutual. Davidson called Tyrer a "mountain of a man," though Davidson stood 6'8" and weighed 275 lbs., himself.

"He was easily the best blocker I ever faced," Davidson recalls. "He had power and finesse. He could have made an excellent guard, too. We were friends off the field, as Tyrer was all about good sportsmanship. We used to go to the AFL All-Star games together on a bus. We would joke if either he or my teammate, Hall of Famer Jim Otto, had the biggest head in football. I often would say at banquets that Tyrer basically wore a big red trash can as a helmet when he played."

Davidson believes that Tyrer has long deserved his induction into Canton, as does Bethea. Bethea was inducted himself in 2003. "Tyrer was the pioneer of big offensive tackles. He was the best blocker I ever faced. I used to try to run as fast as I could upfield to get around him, but it rarely worked. It pissed me off that I couldn't defeat him, as I could with other left tackles regularly."

Bethea also admits he feared facing Tyrer. "He was THE preeminent left tackle in all of football. All other blockers I faced in the NFL were mediocre compared to him. He would just swamp me each game to where I would be lucky to beat him even once in a game," he said.

Paul Zimmerman, a Hall of Fame voter and writer for Sports Illustrated, has long said Rich "Tombstone" Jackson was the greatest pass rusher in pro football history has long lobbied for his induction into Canton. Jackson, though he would like to be inducted, himself, also has a tremendous amount of respect for Tyrer.

"It is a travesty that Jim Tyrer has yet to be inducted into Canton," he said. "He was one of the first big offensive linemen with quick feet to play pro football. Besides having good feet, he was crafty and smart. You had to be prepared facing him, as the Chiefs won-loss record was proof of how excellent their players were. Tyrer was the top offensive lineman I ever faced, and that included the AFL and NFL."

Larry Eisenhauer, whose four Pro Bowls are tied with Bob Dee and Richard Seymour as the most in Patriots franchise history, also echoes Davidson, Bethea, and Jackson in thinking that Tyrer should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame long ago.

"He was the best I ever faced," Eisenhauer recalls. "He was equally excellent run blocking and pass blocking. He was a very strong man, and I never looked forward to facing him. I really cannot believe he has not been inducted into Canton yet. He was the best left tackle in AFL history."

Tom Keating was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle who played on two AFL Championship teams. "Jim Tyrer was one of the most dominant tackles in all football," he said. "When I was with the Raiders, Ben and I rarely ran stunts against Ed Budde and Tyrer. If I went first in the stunt, Jim would close down and I was faced with 6'6" and closer to 300 lbs. I was 6'2" and weighed 247 lbs. If Ben went first(took an inside rush), I had to loop way outside and by the time I got outside, Lenny Dawson was throwing the ball. Ben and I had much better luck one-on-one with Ed and Jim."

"Jim was a excellent drive blocker and was good at hooking the defensive players," said Keating. “He deserves induction into Canton.

If Tyrer has the respect of his peers, many who are amongst the finest to ever play, then it adds to further confusion as to why he has yet been given his long awaited induction.

One theory is a lingering disrespect to the American Football League itself. NFL players were told back then that the AFL was an inferior brand of football, full of players who lacked the skills to play in the NFL.

Homer Jones, a Pro Bowl wide receiver of the New York Giants, is known as the man who invented spiking the football after a touchdown and holds the record for most yards per catch for a career. "We were told the AFL was a Mickey Mouse organization yearly to keep us from wanting to play there, even for more money. When we finally faced those guys, we realized that they were as good as us. Maybe even better in some areas," he said.

Jackson recalls his Denver Broncos played the first preseason contests between the two leagues. "We played against both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings," he said. "We weren't always the best team in the AFL, never winning more than seven games in a season in the entire time we spent in the AFL. We were told we had no chance against the NFL, but we won both games."

The AFL has just 30 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who once played in their league. Several joined the league just before the merger, having played the majority of their careers under the NFL umbrella. Only one, Billy Shaw, was inducted despite having played his entire career in only the AFL. At his ceremony, he was forced to wear a jacket that had the NFL logo emblazoned on it.

"There may be a lingering AFL disrespect when it comes to voters," said Ed Budde, an offensive guard also on the AFL's All-Time First Team and teammate of Tyrer for eleven years. He played alongside Tyrer and went to seven Pro Bowls himself. "Jim played at a top level with great skill for a long time. His body of work is proof of his excellence, and he should be inducted into Canton," he said. Many football fans and his peers believe Budde should also be inducted, but he has somehow not yet been given this honor.

For some reason, Canton has become the NFL Hall of Fame, instead of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though several players spent time in other leagues, the Hall of Fame seems to make sure these contributors' biographies concentrate mostly on their NFL exploits. The Cleveland Browns, who dominated the All-American Football Conference, never get their true respect as a dynasty because they came from another league initially.

There is a long list of AFL players awaiting induction into Canton to this day, as inferior modern players go in ahead of them. One theory for this is that the NFL still is upset at being forced to merge with the AFL, because the upstart league was taking viewers and money away from them. Voters living in the wallets of the NFL have chosen to ignore gridiron excellence for fear of losing their positions. Positions they no longer sit in with the pure intentions they once held.

Though many feel the way Tyrer's life ended was the reason for his exclusion from the Hall of Fame thus far, it also points out another hypocrisy of Canton. When Michael Irvin was inducted in 2007, it was met by a huge backlash from NFL fans who couldn't understand his induction ahead of Art Monk and others, because of his notorious lifestyle as opposed to the squeaky clean lifestyle of others.

The official reason given for Irvin's induction is that garnering the honor is based on a player's body of work on the field, not off of it. If this truly is the case, then it shows the flaw in logic for omitting Tyrer thus far.

"It is time to wipe the slate clean and induct him," says Davidson. "Life goes on. These types of events happen daily. We are turning him into a Pete Rose by excluding him, though everyone knows he should be in."

Depression was an issue people in Tyrer's era dealt with internally -- it was not as acceptable to seek help for it as it is today. He battled it as his business ventures failed and he struggled to keep his four children enrolled in private schools.

"We didn't make a lot of money," Davidson remembers, "so we worked extra jobs to make ends meet. I worked with several teammates as valets at a race track. We would park the customers' cars, then sprint back as a way to keep in shape. I remember one time I was riding a bus to an AFL All-Star game with Jim. I was telling him of my post-career plans of being a landlord. He proceeded to tell me of all of these plans he had. He kind of made me feel inadequate, my owning apartment buildings. I also thought perhaps he was too spread out in his interests and might be too aggressive."

As his financial situation suffered, his depression worsened to the point it led to his death.
Though none of his family members saw it coming, most acknowledged that he was depressed at the time.



"I felt my dad's mental state at the end of his life must have been impaired and that very well could have been as a result of the trauma his brain experienced during his football career", says Brad Tyer, the oldest son of Jim and Martha.


One thing all of his children have done is forgive him for that fateful day. They still love their father and hope to see Canton finally give him his long overdue earned respect. "Dad belongs there, but I am unsure if the voters will ever put him in," says Brad.


Pete Duranko was a defensive end for seven seasons with the Denver Broncos. Not only was he a friend, having had dinner with Tyrer and their wives, but he faced him several times on the field. "He was the best offensive tackle ever, and one of the best to ever have played football," Duranko says enthusiastically. "He didn't get his full recognition because he was on those excellent Chiefs teams, but he was load to deal with."

Duranko has spent his post-football career working with players who suffer from depression and also deals with his own health issues and depression. "It creeps up on you. People, especially the voters, do not understand mental illness. Jim was a strong man who did his best to hide his disease. He didn't want people to know he was depressed and preferred to try to deal with it himself. When we were in the game, if you didn't play, you'd go highway. Meaning you got released. This made you play through all sorts of injuries, especially concussions."

Duranko is yet another of a long line of players who feel Tyrer deserves induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A list that includes Hall of Famer Willie Lanier and Fred Arbanas. Arbanas, a six-time Pro Bowler and member of the AFL All-Time Team and Chiefs Hall of Fame, was Tyrer's roommate for ten years and perhaps his best friend on the team.

While many of those close to Jim Tyrer feel head injuries suffered while playing football contributed to his depression, there are some who are unsure. Al Lundstrom is Tyrer's brother-in-law and played football with him at Ohio State University. "Jim was smart, hard to move, was fast on his feet, and was also very big. Many players were unable to use the head slap on him because of his height. Though he was depressed about his financial situation, I am not convinced his depression was brought on by post-concussion syndrome," he said.

Even if he did not suffer from a head injury after his career, his accolades speak loudly for a long overdue respect that should be attained now. The voters really have no excuse nor reason not to bestow it. If it is AFL disrespect, the building clearly has a sign that says PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame, NOT the NFL Hall of Fame. The American Football League certainly played pro football, as their two Super Bowl wins in four meetings with the NFL prove.

No player in the history of professional football, who is able to be voted into Canton, has attained more accolades than Jim Tyrer and has failed to be inducted by the voters yet. He was named All-AFL in each of the eight seasons he played in the league

Canton is full of players with much less accomplishment and respect. Many defensive ends who faced him state he was the best offensive tackle ever in AFL history. Even better than Hall of Famer Ron Mix or eight-time Pro Bowler Winston Hill, who also awaits his induction.

If the excuse of the voters is that they have not forgiven him for how his life ended 30 years ago, they fail to realize it has been three decades and it is time to forgive. Especially having hurriedly inducted a questionable character like Michael Irvin.

If an induction into Canton truly is about what a player does on the gridiron alone, their exclusion of Tyrer becomes more ludicrous and has to bring into question what reasons the voters have used to prevent his induction.

Tyrer, himself, once described what playing offensive tackle was like. “You have to have a certain personality to be an offensive lineman. You have to be orderly, disciplined. You have to take the shots like a hockey goalie. It's a passive violence. You build up anxiety. But when you finally get a clear shot at a guy, you say, 'Take this for all of those.' ”

Not only did his opponents "Take it for all of those," but he gave it better than anyone who ever played his position in the entire history of the American Football League. He had no peer at his position. Quite simply, he was the best to ever suit up at offensive tackle for the Chiefs or the AFL. Jim Tyrer is a member of the Chiefs Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame.

As time passes, not only do we tend to forget the life of Jim Tyrer and how it ended, but we also tend to forget all of his excellence attained in the game of football. The voters of Canton can be held guilty of this, especially the Seniors Committee. A committee whose sole job is not to forget greats.

All you have to do is look at the career of Jim Tyrer to see how great he was, because it is in plain black and white print. There are few who ever played his position in the history of pro football to succeed on his level.

Of the 11 men who were voted into Canton so far as offensive tackles, nine have fewer accolades than Tyrer. Only Lou "The Toe" Groza has appeared in as many Pro Bowls, though he was named to two less First-Team All-Pro Teams. Anthony Munoz is the only offensive tackle in Canton who has more combined Pro Bowls and First-Team All-Pro honors than Tyrer.

"A travesty," as Rich Jackson states, might be too light a word for Tyrer's exclusion from Canton. Utterly disgusting, distasteful, and disrespectful may be more apt. If his own family can forgive him and move on, it is time the voters do so as well. There is no player right now in the entire history of professional football more deserving of induction into their Hall of Fame than Jim Tyrer.





Notable Players Drafted In 1961 (* Donotes Hall of Famer)

AFL Draft

6. E.J. Holub, LB, Dallas Texans
7. Earl Faison, DE, San Diego Chargers
11. Billy Shaw, G, Buffalo Bills *
15. Keith Lincoln, RB, Chargers
16. Tom Goode, C, Houston Oilers
24. Walt Suggs, OT, Oilers
25. Ron McDole, DE, Denver Broncos
27. Stew Barber, OT/ OLB, Bills
38. Jerry Mays, DE, Texans
42. Larry Eisenhauer, DE, Boston Patriots
51. Al Bemiller, C, Bills
54. Fred Arbanas, TE, Texans
58. Charley Long, G, Patriots
64. Houston Antwine, DT, Oilers
71. Bob Scarpitto, WR/ P, Chargers
96. Bob McLoud, TE, Oilers
110. Curtis McClinton, RB, Texans
119. Ernie Ladd, DT, Chargers
135. Reggie Carolan, TE, Chargers
150. Frank Jackson, WR, Texans
186. Don Webb, CB, Patriots
190. Pat Dye, G, Texans (Notable College Football Coach)
223. Chuck Allen, LB, Chargers



NFL Draft

1. Tommy Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
2. Norm Snead, QB, Washington Redskins
3. Joe Ruetgens, DT, Redskins
4. Marlin McKeever, LB, Los Angeles Rams
5. Mike Ditka, TE, Chicago Bears *
6. Jimmie Johnson, DB, San Francisco 49ers *
7. Ken Rice, OT, Saint Louis Cardinals
8. Tom Matte, RB, Baltimore Colts
9. Bernie Casey, WR, 49ers
11. Billy Kilmer, RB, 49ers
12. Herb Adderley, DB, Green Bay Packers *
13. Bob Lilly, DT, Dallas Cowboys *
15. Rip Hawkins, LB, Vikings
19. Myron Pottios, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Bill Brown, RB, Bears
29. Fran Tarkenton, QB, Vikings *
42. Don Oakes, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
45. Charley Cowan, OT, Rams
46. Ben Davidson, DE, New York Giants
47. Aaron Thomas, TE, 49ers
69. Mike Lucci, LB, Cleveland Browns
81. Greg Larsen, C, Giants
82. Lee Folkins, TE, Packers
89. Mike Pyle, C, Browns
90. Dick Hoak, RB, Steelers
98. Irv Cross, CB, Eagles
110. Fred Cox, K, Browns
130. Joe Scibelli, G, Rams
176. Ernie McMillan, OT, Cardinals
186. Deacon Jones, DE, Rams *
197. Mike Mercer, K, Vikings
200. Ernie Wright, OT, Rams
232. Pat Fischer, CB, Cardinals
280. Jacque MacKinnon, TE, Eagles






Jim With Hank Stram

Joe DeLamielleure Calls Out Drew Brees

Dear Drew:

At the NFL Players Association convention in Hawaii this past Sunday, you presented a resolution that would give former players two seats on the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives.

The two seats are for “non-voting members.” In my book, that’s just a bark without a bite. In fact this is nothing but window-dressing by the NFLPA to give retired players the illusion that they have some power. Retired players may be sitting at the table, but when it comes time to vote….. we have to sit quietly in the corner and watch.

In touting your amendment you said “As one team, we will fight to improve a health care system that currently only gives players five years of health care if you play three years and a plan that doesn’t cover all preventative health care for our wives”.

Did you actually say that in front of retired players? How in the world does that statement have anything to do with helping most retired players? Not one single player, before 1993, had 5 free years of health insurance after they retired, not to mention coverage for their wives!

You want retired players to be on your team. You gotta be kidding me! On every team that I ever played on, we all had the same game plan. Well, your game plan is a lot different than the one most retired players want to see executed.

Could one of the reasons you want us to join the “Team” be because the NFL Owner’s have discontinued their contributions to your Annuity Plan, Second Career Savings Plan, Tuition Assistance Plan, Health Reimbursement Account? Well, if you want us to fight for your benefits, you better start fighting for ours!

You forgot to mention in your press conference that after your 5 free years of medical benefits end, you will have a Health Reimbursement Account that will kick in. The NFL owners have been depositing $25,000 annually into your pre-tax account. Your account can increase up to $300,000, therefore you can rest comfortably knowing that this will help you pay for direct medical expenses, medical insurance premiums, and medical insurance co-pays and deductibles for all your family members including your wife!

If you really wanted the retired players to rally around you Drew, you should have mentioned something about increasing the Pension Plan, or reforming the Disability Plan, which are the top two issues that concern retired players.

So where were you when the owners recently proposed to increase retired player pension benefits by $100 Million? The money for that expense would have come from a wage cap on rookies.

Why would you want to continue a system that gave $462 Million in guaranteed bonuses to the first 32 players selected in last years draft? Those guys had never played a single down in the NFL. This year it will happen again and that is a slap in the face of all retired players who built the foundations of the NFL that you are now standing on………and benefitting from. Would your silence on this issue have anything to do with the fact that Tom Condon is your agent and that he would stand to lose millions of dollars if the rookie wage cap was put in place. I certainly hope not.

It is simply astonishing to me that you expressed your concern about better health insurance for NFL wives, especially in light of the fact that there are thousands of retired players that never received a plug nickel for post-career health insurance and a Health Reimbursement Account like the one you will have when you retire.

Some players have been denied an NFL disability and as a result, their bank accounts have been drained dry due to hospital and doctor bills. Many retired players can’t find affordable health insurance because they’re self-employed. Many others have the added problem of insurance companies dropping them, capping their annual payments, or outright denying them coverage because of (football related) pre-existing conditions.

Fortunately, you have a disability plan that can help you, should you get injured. Before 1993 there wasn’t much of a plan to speak of. If, God forbid, you should have an injury that ends your career, I guess it doesn’t hurt to know that your agent, Tom Condon, is one of the NFLPA appointments to the Board that reviews claims for disability.

This past Sunday wasn’t the first time you’ve made comments that make retired players question your commitment to improving the Pensions of retired players. Back on January 29, 2009 you made some rather insulting comments about retired players when you said “There’s some guys out there that have made bad business decisions. They took their pensions early because they never went out and got a job. They’ve had a couple divorces and they’re making payments to this place and that place. And that’s why they don’t have money. And they’re coming to us to basically say, Please make up for my bad judgment.”

Yes, there are some guys that made bad decisions, but unlike your generalized characterization, the majority of us made good decisions.

As for me, my work ethic speaks for itself. I never missed a day of practice in 13 seasons in the NFL. Since my retirement, I’ve worked every day of my life. I also worked during the football offseason too, just like many other players of my generation.

I’ve been married to my wife Gerri for 38 years. She works so we can make ends meet and also have health insurance coverage through her employer. I have 4 biological children, 2 adopted children and 3 other children that I raised and put through college and trade schools. I currently have 8 grandchildren.

Just like you, I want to make sure I can provide for my family, but it hasn’t been easy on our incomes and my current pension which is $1,247.96 a month.

Unfortunately, I received some bad advice from the union and was encouraged to take my Pension at age 45. We were given bogus information that told us NFL players were dying at a much younger age than the general population, so I did what I thought was best for my family.

Many retired players had to take their pension money out of necessity. We didn’t make the millions that you and other players now make. I should note that the NFLPA finally realized their mistake and stopped allowing retired players to take early pensions and the Social Security Adjustment Option too.

I would also like to point out that back in my playing days, we didn’t have the security of knowing that an Annuity Plan and a Second Career Savings Plan would be waiting for us after retirement. I recently read that those two funds have almost 1.5 Billion dollars in total assets, but those monies are only for the more recent generation of players – guys that played after 1993. If that money had been put into the Pension plan it could have helped ALL retired players, not just the guys that were fortunate enough to come along after all the player strikes, court battles and fighting for free agency was said and done.

In addition to your 5 free years of medical coverage and your health reimbursement account, you will also have $455,000 in your Annuity account, $132,000 in your Second Career Savings account and if you were to retire today, you would also receive a Severance Check of $145,000 and an NFL Pension which would pay you $56,400 annually at age 55.

This is all on top of the 6 year, $60 Million contract you signed in 2006, of which 20.1 million was guaranteed.

These figures do not include the moneys you also make from the NFLPA Group Licensing Program, NFL Players (the marketing arm of the NFLPA) and all of your endorsements.

Like a lot of retired players, I’m sick and tired of hearing multi-millionaire players talk about increasing their own benefits, while at the same time giving lip service to retired players.

In closing, I want you to know that I am aware of all the good things you are doing in your community and that you are very involved in raising money for charities. I too, am very involved in raising money for organizations and charities.

We both know what needs to be done to help the less fortunate and that is why I am calling on you to help the pioneers of the NFL by advocating for a significant increase in retired player pensions and instituting additional reforms to the NFL Disability Plan.



Sincerely,

Joe DeLamielleure
NFL Hall of Fame – Class of 2003





http://fourthandgoalunites.com/2010/03/18/joe-delamielleure%E2%80%99s-open-letter-to-drew-brees/