NFL Hall of Fame Inductees
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Class of 2006
Troy Aikman
Born: November 21, 1966
Drafted: Selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989
Years Played: 1989-2000
Position Played: Quarterback
Played For: Dallas Cowboys
Alma Mater: Played two seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners before transfering to UCLA for his final two seasons.
Uniform Number: 8
Best Season:
Troy Aikman was a steady performer throughout his career, and no season really stands out as his best. He achieved his highest passing yardage total in 1992 (3,445 yards) and posted his highest passer rating in 1993 (99.0).
College Highlights:
At UCLA, completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 5,298 yards and 41 touchdowns while throwing only 17 interceptions
Finished college career as the third-rated passer in NCAA history
College Awards:
Named to The Sporting News college All-America second team (1987)
PAC 10 Offensive Player of the Year (1987)
Most Valuable Player - Aloha Bowl (1987)
Named to The Sporting News All-America team (1988)
Henry R. "Red" Sanders Trophy (1988)
Heisman Trophy Finalist (1988)
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (1988)
College Quarterback of the Year (1988)
Most Valuable Player - Cotton Bowl (1988)
NFL Career Totals:
Passing - Completed 2,898 of 4,715 Passes for 32,942 Yards and 165 Touchdowns
Rushing - 327 Carries for 1,016 yards and Nine Touchdowns
NFL Highlights:
Number One pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by Dallas Cowboys
Led Dallas to consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1992 & 1993 and another in 1995
Led Dallas to four consecutive NFC championship games - 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995
One of only three quarterbacks in NFL history with at least three Super Bowl victories
MVP of Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
Winningest quarterback of any decade in NFL history - 90 victories in the 90s
All-Pro Selection 4 Years
Set an NFL rookie-record with 379 yards passing against the Phoenix Cardinals
set the record for the longest play from scrimmage in playoff history with a 94-yard TD pass to Alvin Harper against the Packers (1994)
Set NFC Championship game records for attempts, completions, and passing yards in a 38-28 loss to the 49ers. (1994)
Set club records with 156 passing attempts without an interception (1996)
Finished career with 32,942 total passing yards and completed 2,898 passes on 4,715 attempts (61.5%)
Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (February 26, 2002)
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Reggie White
Brief Biography:
Reggie White was a two-time NFL defensive player of the year who terrorized pro quarterbacks throughout a career that started in 1984 with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL and continued with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers in the NFL. White was selected to a record 13-consecutive Pro Bowls, and held the league's all-time sack record (198) when he retired in 2001.
White was one of the best, if not the best, defensive ends to ever play the game. His 21 sacks in 1987 fell just one short of the single-season record, held by Mark Gastineau at the time. But the amazing thing is, he did it in 12 games during a strike-shortened season.
Hard feelings toward management caused his departure from Philadelphia, and his arrival in Green Bay as a free agent in 1993 was a catalyst for a return to glory for a once-proud franchise that had fallen on hard times.
Born: Reginald Howard White - December 19, 1961
Died: December 26, 2004
Years Played: 1984-85 (USFL) 1985-1998, 2000 (NFL)
Position Played: Defensive End
Played For: Memphis Showboats (USFL) 1983-84, Philadelphia Eagles 1985-92, Green Bay Packers 1993-98
Alma Mater: Tennessee
Nickname: Minister of Defense
Interesting Fact:
In 1985, Reggie White played in a combined 31 professional football games (18 with Memphis and 13 with Philadelphia).
College Highlights:
Named an All-American as a senior at the University of Tennessee (1982)
NFL Highlights:
Named to 13 consecutive Pro Bowls (1986-98)
Named Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 1998)
Retired as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks. (198)
Produced double-digit sacks in 12-of-15 seasons.
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Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon . . .Began pro career with CFLs Edmonton Eskimos, winning five straight Grey Cups. . . Signed with NFLs Houston Oilers, 1984... Completed 3,988 of 6,823 passes for 49,325 yards, 291 touchdowns, 233 interceptions in 17-season NFL carer. . .Nine 3,000-yard passing seasons was third in league history. . .Named to nine Pro Bowls. . .Had four 4,000-yard passing seasons. All-Pro, 1990
First or second team All-AFC 1988, 1989, 1990
Born November 18, 1956 in Los Angeles, California.
Prior to the 1978 NFL Draft, some NFL scouts suggested that since University of Washington quarterback Warren Moon had played in a rollout rather than a drop-back passing offense, he would be a mid-round pick. Others speculated that since only one African American quarterback, James Harris, had achieved any measurable success in the NFL, Moon would have to play some other position. Regardless of which misguided reason motivated NFL scouts, Moon remained confident of his abilities and opted to sign with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He went on to lead the Eskimos to an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cup victories.
Eventually, Moon returned to the United States to play for the Houston Oilers in 1984. He racked up nearly 50,000 passing yards in 17 NFL seasons. Moon set a new club record with 3,338 yards passing in his first year with the Houston, a mark he would break four more times. In 1986, when the Oilers installed the run-and-shoot offense, Moon's quarterback skills finally became apparent to all. The wide-open offense showcased Moon's strong arm, running skills, and big-play ability.
.jpg) In 1990, Moon led the league with 4,689 passing yards. He also led the league in attempts (584), completions (362), and touchdowns (33), and tied Dan Marino's record with nine 300-yard games in a season. The following year, he again led the league in passing yards 4,690. At the same time, he joined Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Dan Fouts as the only quarterbacks to post back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. Moon also established new NFL records that season with 655 attempts and 404 completions.
Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings before the 1994 season. In his debut season he passed for 4,264 yards and led the team to the playoffs. In his second season in Minnesota, he again passed for more than 4,200 yards. Moon moved on to the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 1997 where the veteran star set franchise records for completions (313) and yards passing (3,678) and earned his ninth Pro Bowl selection. Injuries limited his play in 1998. In 1999, Moon joined the Kansas City Chiefs and spent two seasons as a backup there before retiring.
Despite spending his first six professional seasons in the CFL, Moon ranked third all-time in NFL passing yardage and fourth in touchdown passes thrown at the time of his retirement.
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Harry Carson
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A defensive end in college, Harry Carson never missed a game in four seasons at South Carolina State. Selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, he was immediately moved to the linebacker position in the pros. Carson won the starting middle linebacker position halfway through that rookie season and went on to be named to the All-NFL Rookie Team.
An emotional player, Carson led by example both on and off the field. He led all Giants defenders in tackles five seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl nine times, including seven straight from 1982 through 1988. His best single-game performance came in 1982 in a Monday night game versus the Green Bay Packers in which he racked up 20 solo tackles and five assists. He accumulated 14 opponents' fumble recoveries during his career.
 Carson, as an inside linebacker, was a ferocious run stopper. Known for his "all-out" style of play, he attacked onrushing blockers head on in his pursuit of the ball carrier. Later in his career when he was joined by outside linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks, there was no better linebacker trio in the NFL. Like Taylor, he was extremely difficult to defense in blitzing situations and he had the speed and agility to be an effective pursuit player, even when the play was directed away from his area of responsibility.
In 1986, Carson finished second in total tackles for the Giants with 118 in the regular season and 23 in the playoffs. He recorded the ninth of his 11 career interceptions, had two quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles, as the Giants went on to defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI.
Although he was a very consistent player, Carson seemed to produce top performances in key games. That was the case in New York's Super Bowl season. His interception and 12 solo tackles against the Washington Redskins on December 7 virtually assured the Giants of the NFC East title. It was also Carson who made the "big play" on the Giants' first-half goal line stand against the Broncos in the Super Bowl, when he stuffed Gerald Willhite for no gain.
In addition to his nine Pro Bowl appearances, Carson was named first- or second-team All-Pro six times and first- or second-team All-NFC six times.
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Rayfield Wright
Larry Rayfield Wright. . .Cowboys seventh round pick, 1967 NFL Draft. . .Earned named permanent starting right tackle position, 1970. . .Known as Big Cat, earned first- or second-team All-NFL honors six consecutive times (1971-1976). . .Selected to play in Pro Bowl following each of those seasons. . .Started in six NFC championship games and played in five Super Bowls. . .Named to NFLs All-Decade Team of the 1970s. . .Born August 23, 1945 in Griffin, Georgia.
Rayfield Wright, the Dallas Cowboys seventh round draft pick in the 1967 draft, was given little chance of making the team's final roster. But the Fort Valley (GA) State All-America demonstrated enough determination and raw athleticism that the coaching staff knew they somehow needed to work him into the lineup.
During his first three seasons the 6-6, 255-pound Wright was used as a tight end, defensive end, and offensive tackle. In 1969 when right tackle Ralph Neely was injured, Coach Tom Landry decided to insert Wright into the lineup. His first opponent was future Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. "The Deacon is big and strong and mean," Wright was cautioned by his line coach. "Well," said the confident Wright, "so am I."
 Wright's performance against Jones was good enough that before training camp opened in 1970, Landry announced that Wright would be his starting right tackle. One season later he was named All-NFL. Known as "Big Cat," Wright earned first- or second-team All-NFL honors six consecutive times (1971-1976). He was also selected to play in the Pro Bowl following each of those seasons.
Wright's performance during the 1975 season was particularly impressive. Coming off knee surgery, many questioned whether "Big Cat" would even play. Not only did he play, but he again notched All-NFL honors into his career belt. In postseason play he faced three legendary defensive ends - Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood, Pittsburgh Steelers L.C. Greenwood, and Minnesota Vikings Carl Eller - head on. Each time he rose to the occasion with exceptional play.
"He was truly outstanding," Youngblood summarized of Wright's play in the playoff game. As for his performance against Eller, longtime Cowboys offensive line coach Jim Myers proclaimed that Rayfield "played as well or even better in that game."
"An all-day fight with Rayfield Wright definitely is not my idea of a pleasant Sunday afternoon," Eller once offered. "I think he is pretty much of a composite of an all-pro tackle. He has size, strength, and quickness. The big thing in Rayfield's favor is that he has a lot of range. He moves faster than most tackles. He's just difficult to play against."
Myers summarized Wright's overall career this way. "We tried to make a tight end out of Rayfield. Then we tried him on the defensive line. And then he made a great coach out of me."
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John Madden
John Earl Madden . . .Regular season record: 103-32-7. . .Post-season record: 9-7. . .Overall record: 112-39-7. . .His .759 winning percentage during regular season ranks as highest ever among coaches with 100 career victories. . .One of youngest head coaches in history when Raiders hired him in 1969 at age 32. . .AFL Coach of the Year, 1969. . .Under Madden, Oakland never suffered losing record. . .Led Raiders to Super Bowl XI. . .Team won 17 straight games between 1976-1977 seasons, one short of NFL record at time. . .Born April 10, 1936 in Austin, Minnesota.
John Madden began his pro football coaching career in 1967 as the Oakland Raiders' linebackers coach. After two seasons, he was elevated to head coach. At 32 years of age when he was hired, he became the youngest head coach in the American Football League. In his first year at the Raiders' helm, Madden earned American Football League Coach of the Year honors as he led the team to a 12-1-1 record and an AFL Western Division title.
Madden coached the Raiders for 10 seasons, posting a regular season record of 103 wins, 32 losses and 7 ties. During that time, he guided the team to seven Western Division titles, including five in a row from 1972 to 1976. Under Madden's guidance, Oakland never experienced a losing season. Madden's Raiders made eight playoff appearances, including a 37-31 six-quarter AFC Divisional Playoff win over the Baltimore Colts in 1977. Perennial winners, the team never finished with fewer than 8 wins in the then-14 game season (8-4-2 in 1970, 1971).
 Six times in 10 seasons, Oakland recorded 10 or more victories. In 1976, the coach guided his team to a near-perfect 13-1 record to win the AFC Western Division. The success continued in the post-season with wins over New England in the divisional playoff game and a commanding 24-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Madden and the Raiders capped the 1976 season with a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Between the 1976 and 1977 seasons, the Raiders won 17 consecutive games, one short of the then-NFL record for consecutive wins.
Madden's .759 regular season winning percentage ranks as highest ever among coaches with 100 career victories. Only Hall of Fame coaches George Halas and Curly Lambeau had reached 100 career wins at an earlier age.
Before coaching in Oakland, Madden was the defensive coordinator at San Diego State, from 1964-1966, where the Aztecs were ranked first among small colleges with a 26-4 record. From 1960-1963 he coached at Hancock Junior College in Santa Maria, California. Madden started on both offense and defense as a player for California Polytechnic College at San Luis Obispo in 1957 and 1958, and was voted to the All-Conference team. The Philadelphia Eagles selected him as a future choice in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL Draft, but a knee injury in his rookie season prematurely ended his playing career.
Class of 2005
Dan Marino
Name: Daniel Constantine Marino, Jr.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 224 lbs.
Born: September 15, 1961
College: Pittsburgh
Drafted: Selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (27th pick overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft.
Dan Marino started his NFL career in 1983 with the basic life statistics listed above. Seventeen years later, he finished with the incomparable stats listed below.
Position: Quarterback 1983-99
Dan's NFL Records...
Most Attempts, Career: 8,358
Most Completions, Career: 4,967
Most Yards Passing, Career: 61,361
Most Touchdown Passes, Career: 420
Highest Pass Rating, Rookie Season: 96.0 in 1983
Highest Completion Percentage, Rookie Season: 58.45 in 1983 (296-173)
Most Yards Gained, Season: 5,084 in 1984
Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Career: 13
Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Season: 4 in 1984
Most Games, 300 or more Yards Passing, Career: 60
Most Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 13 (1984-92, 1994-95, 1997-98)
Most Consecutive Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 9 (1984-92)
Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Career: 21
Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Season: 6 in 1984
Most Consecutive Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes: 4 in 1984
Lowest Percentage, Passes Intercepted, Rookie Season: 2.03 in 1983 (296-6)
Most Seasons Leading League, Attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
Most Seasons Leading League, Completions: 6 (1984-86, 1988, 1992, 1997)
Most Seasons, 40 or more Touchdown Passes: 2 (1984, 1986)
Most Seasons, 20 or more Touchdown Passes: 13 (1983-92, 1994-95, 1998)
Most Consecutive Seasons, 20 or more Touchdown Passes: 10 (1983-92)
100 TD Passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 44 (9/7/86 at S.D.)
200 TD passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 89 ( 9/17/89 at N.E.)
300 TD passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 157 ( 9/4/94 vs. N.E.)
Steve Young
Profile
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215 lbs.
Born: October 11, 1961
College: Brigham Young
Drafted: Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round (first pick overall) of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.
Acquired: Re-signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent on May 3, 1991.
College
Consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up to Nebraska's Mike Rozier in 1983 ... Completed 71.3 percent (306-429 for 3,902 yards and 33 TDs) of his passes as a senior for the highest single-season percentage in NCAA history at the time ... BYU won 11 of 12 games, including a Holiday Bowl victory over Missouri, in 1983, as he passed for better that 300 yards in all but two of the games.
Personal
Jon Steven Young ... Born in Salt Lake City and attended Greenwich High School in Connecticut ... Great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young ... Received a law degree ... Named Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Professional Athlete of the Year for 1992 ... Contestant on "Wheel of Fortune" during the 1993 off-season ... Organized and manages the Forever Young Foundation, which benefits Bay Area and Utah youth-oriented charities.
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Class of 2004
John Elway
Born: June 28, 1960
Drafted:
First pick overall of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.
His rights were traded by the Colts to the Denver Broncos on May 2, 1983, for QB Mark Herrmann, the rights to OL Chris Hinton, and a first-round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft.
Years Played: 1983-1998
Position Played: Quarterback
Played For: Denver Broncos
Alma Mater: Stanford
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2004
Other Members of the Class of 2004: Barry Sanders, Carl Eller, Bob Brown
Uniform Number: 7
College Highlights:
Completed 62.1 percent of his passes (774 of 1,243) for 9,349 yards and 77 touchdowns
Set an NCAA record for the lowest percentage of passes intercepted in a career (3.13 percent)
Finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1982
Hit .349 with nine homers and 50 RBIs in 49 games in his final college baseball season in 1980.
Was the New York Yankees' first selection in the 1981 summer draft.
Was on the losing end of the infamous "Stanford Band" game.
Best NFL Season:
John Elway had several tremendous seasons, so it's tough to pick just one. He had what was probably his best season throwing the ball in 1993 when he passed for 4,030 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also had a quarterback rating of 92.8.
NFL Career Totals:
Passing - Completed 4,123 Passes on 7,250 Attempts for 51,475 Yards and 300 Touchdowns
Rushing - Carried 774 Times for 3,407 Yards and 33 Touchdowns
NFL Highlights:
Set the NFL career record for most wins as a starting quarterback with 140
Tied the NFL record for most seasons with 3,000 or more yards passing with 12
Oldest player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl at the age of 37 (Super Bowl XXXII)
Denver Broncos' all-time passing leader in yardage with 51,475 yards and touchdown passes with 300
Played in six AFC championship games
Played in five Super Bowls, winning two
Selected to play in the Pro Bowl nine times
Set the record for most rushing attempts by a quarterback with 687
Finished career second behind Dan Marino in passing yards (51,475), attempts (7,250), completions (4,123) and total offense (54,882)
At the time of his retirement, he held or was tied for 53 regular season Bronco records.
The only player to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 200 yards in the same year for seven straight seasons (1985-91)
Named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1987
Named AFC Player of the Year in 1993
Set an NFL record with 41 fourth-quarter game-saving drives
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2004)
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Barry Sanders
Born: July 16, 1968
Drafted: Barry Sanders was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the third overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Years Played: 1989-1998
Position Played: Running Back
Played For: Detroit Lions
Alma Mater: Oklahoma State
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2004
Other Members of the Class of 2004: John Elway, Carl Eller, Bob Brown
Uniform Number: 20
College Highlights:
Won the 1988 Heisman Trophy as a junior at Oklahoma State
Set the all-time NCAA single season record with 2,628 rushing yards, 234 points scored and 39 touchdowns
Best NFL Season:
In 1997, Barry Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards and 11 touchdowns, and caught 33 passes for 305 yards and three touchdown.
NFL Career Totals:
Rushing - 3,062 Carries for 15,269 Yards and 99 Touchdowns
Receiving - 352 Receptions for 2,921 Yards and 10 Tpuchdowns
NFL Highlights:
15,269 career rushing yards
109 career touchdowns (99 rushing, 10 receiving)
76 100-yard rushing games
10 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons (1989-1998)
Tied NFL record for total 1,000-yard rushing seasons
NFC Rookie of Year (1988)
2-time NFL Player of Year (1991,97)
10-time Pro Bowl selection (1989-1998)
Five-time NFC rushing leader (1989,90,94,96,97)
Four-time NFL rushing leader (1990,94,96,97)
Set NFL single-season records for most 100-yard rushing games and most consecutive 100-yard games (14 in 1997)
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2004)
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More NFL Hall of Fame Inductees
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