On Location: Highlights From Pro Football Hall of Fame

Sights and sounds from the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies with All Access Football correspondent Bo Marchionte who was on location in Canton, Ohio.

Aug 07, 2023

Welcome to the All Access Football Report for Monday, August 7th, Presented By Sports Management Worldwide — Now offering 4-month scouting apprenticeship with former Raiders Director of Pro Personnel Dane Vandernat. This will be limited to the first 20 signups. Save $100 with our promo code at checkout: VIP23

ON LOCATION: PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

Meat and potatoes enshrinement class delivers full course meal during Canton festivities.

CANTON – Looking outside the press box windows perched high above Tom Benson Hall of Fall Stadium in Canton, you’re able to see the traffic on Interstate 77 pass by bristly. On the horizon behind the giant stage that houses the Hall of Fame players, is a sprawling campus coming to life in Canton, Ohio.

The old entrance of the Pro Football Hall of Fame steps that once held the enshrinement ceremonies, is no longer a functional entry or exit, unless in an emergency. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is massively expanding like the enshrinement classes themselves.

This class brings a gritty quality to it. It’s meat and potatoes. The glamorous positions that most fans grow accustomed to knowing, could have a hard time identifying with some of the players earning their place amongst the immortals of professional football.

Who are the 2023 NFL Hall of Fame inductees?

This year, eight former players were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Chuck Howley (senior committee), Joe Klecko (senior) and Ken Riley (senior). Coach Don Coryell was enshrined in the coach/contributor category.

Each of the individuals that had the opportunity to unveil their bronze busts in front of fans, family, coaches and teammates, shared different stories on their journey that all led them to this final football destination at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Those honored at the Hall of Fame all received a well-deserved standing ovation for creating the lasting memories of the game we love.

Highlighting those who impacted my love for the game of football. By Bo Marchionte

The Dolphins made Thomas the 154^th pick of the 1996 NFL Draft and he became the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year that season, an impressive feat since he was drafted in the same class as fellow Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Thomas spent the majority of his 13-year career in Miami (1996-2007) before capping it off with one final season in Dallas (2008).

“Exactly 25 years ago today on August 5^th in 1996, Jimmy Johnson named me starting middle linebacker for the Miami Dolphins,” Thomas said in the opening of his enshrinement speech. “All you need is one chance and Jimmy gave that to me. I was a kid who didn’t look the part.”

Lacking prototypical height, the 5-foot-11, 235-pound Thomas was short and stocky. His hustle and persistence to make every play propelled him past those who had the luxury of incredible measurables but lacked the determination to excel in the NFL.

“He’s not your prototypical, big, strong linebacker that runs like the wind,” Jimmy Johnson said in his pre-recorded presentation, “but he performed.”

Throughout his 12-year stretch with the Dolphins, Thomas led the team in tackles 10 times and racked up 100 tackles in each of his first 11 seasons. It was the mass production that most remember him by, along with his impeccable ability to stack one play after the next.

“I’m supporting my man Zach Thomas” O.J. McDuffie said, his former Dolphins teammate. “One of the all-time Miami Dolphins greats is finally getting his due at the Hall of Fame. Of course, being from Cleveland, I’m also here to support Joe Thomas getting into the Hall.”

“So, he [Zach] came to the All-American Banquet and was trying to introduce himself to me. Man, I said I know who you are. You had 22 tackles against Penn State. I didn’t like you until today. We’ve been cool ever since,” McDuffie laughed, as he shared the story of his beloved teammate.

Thomas was voted first-team All-Pro five times (1998-99, 2002-03, 2006), second-team All-Pro twice (2001, 2005), was selected to seven Pro Bowls (2000-04, 2006-07) and named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He was the first player in Dolphins’ history to win the Leadership Award (voted by teammates) three times.

I feel compelled to share a story when working with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the summer of 2017. St. John Fisher University is where the Buffalo Bills conduct their training camp and visiting scouts would be invited upstairs to the film room and take notes on practices etc. The Bills had practice tape against Thomas and without question watching him was pure poetry in motion. Fast forward and rewind. Every single rep he was a blueprint of technique and execution.

“An artist at the position,” ESPN’s Chris Berman said of Thomas, which is exactly the point I hope to relate.

Thomas was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s. His 10,363 consecutive snaps were added to the Browns Ring of Honor at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2018 and he was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends program in 2022 for the indelible impact he left on the franchise.

“I want to talk about that random number 10,363,” Thomas began his speech. “That’s how many consecutive snaps I had during my career. From my first snap as a rookie in 2007 to my last snap when I tore my triceps tendon. That is how long this journey has been.”

The journey led Thomas to become one-of-five NFL players in history to make the Pro Bowl in each of their first ten seasons. Those who accomplished the feat are Merlin Olson, Mel Renfro, Barry Sanders and Lawrence Taylor. All enshrined in Canton.

“That number 10,363 is special to me in a lot of ways,” Thomas said. Not just because it’s an NFL record but it shows I was there for my brothers, 10,363 times in a row. They could count on me. Being an offensive lineman is all about being a servant and showing up for everybody else.”

Thomas showed up time and time again for a franchise that failed to deliver a quality team around his impeccable talent. He helped the team to a 10-6 record – the only winning record the franchise had during his tenure and the first for the team since it re-entered the League in 1999.

For those who know me personally, his 10,363 is a number I'll be chasing.

While Joe Thomas was the hometown hero in Canton, playing all 11 seasons in Cleveland with the Browns. It was another Joe, as in Klecko, that appeared to dominate the fan base of support. Once Klecko exited the stage, the front rows of seats became empty. Gang Green was well represented both prior and during Klecko’s speech.

“For 30 years I’ve been waiting to give this speech,” Klecko said. “From the moment the greatest Jet of all-time Joe Namath knocked on my door, I’ve been reflecting on my football life.”

His football was unique in its beginning—it now ends with the greatest individual accomplishment of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Klecko was not given any scholarships after leaving St. James High School in Chester, Pennsylvania.

With no scholarships to play football, Klecko went to work at a trucking company. He was invited to tryout for the semi-pro team, Astin Knights. His girlfriend at the time and now wife (Debbie) was given the credit for Klecko standing on stage in Canton.

“I got cold feet,” Klecko said about going through with the tryout. “She suddenly grabbed my keys out of the ignition and threw them out the window. I said, ‘what the heck did you do that for?’ Needless to when I went out to try to get the keys. A guy saw me and said Joe, ‘come on over.’

Klecko ended up trying out for the team and made it. A college career at Temple would eventually follow before becoming the 1981 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (UPI). He is the only player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three different positions across the defensive line. Klecko was the driving force behind the New York Jets ‘Sack Exchange’ during the 1980s, as he became a fan favorite under the bright lights on Broadway.

After 11 seasons with the Jets, Klecko played for one year with the Indianapolis Colts. He retired with 78 career sacks in 155 games.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HOF CLASS OF 2023

For an in-depth look at the career of Don Coryell, we highly recommend reading: ‘Life, Achievements and Legacy Finally Land Former Cardinals Coach Don Coryell In Hall of Fame,’ by Pro Football HOF Voter Howard Balzer.

For year-round coverage of the NFL Draft and everything football, be sure to subscribe to our All Access Football Newsletter and follow us @NFLDraftBible.

JETS ROOKIE ISRAEL ABANIKANDA SETS SIGHT ON HIS OWN BUST IN CANTON ONE DAY

CANTON – The Pittsburgh Panthers opened their training camp this past Wednesday. One day later, just 90 miles away, ex-Panthers running back Israel “Izzy” Abanikanda was taking his first snaps in the National Football League.

Abanikanda, the New York Jets fifth round pick in 2023, received the starting nod against the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game. Aware that his former college teammates were preparing for the season, he was assured they would be tuned-in.

“It feels special,” Abanikanda said after his first NFL action. “It definitely feels special. They’re going through camp right now. So, I know they were watching. I got to put something on for them.”

On the Jets first offensive series, Abanikanda ran the ball for five yards; he would shoulder the load in the first half with eight touches. For the game, he finished with nine carries for 27 yards and one touchdown—a modest night in production. However, we saw him flash some of those signature moves, which helped propel him to earn First Team All-ACC honors last season.

“The first carry I had a little jitter,” Abanikanda said. “But after I got tackled the first time, I just felt like it was football. It’s the same game I’ve been playing since I was four years old.”

The 20-year old Brooklyn native continues to do what he has done since the age of four, which is score touchdowns.

After leading the NCAA last year in scoring (11.6 points per game) with 21 touchdowns, it looked natural for Abanikanda to cut around the left side and beat the defender to the end zone. Scoring the first touchdown of the game, Abanikanda put the Jets up 13-0 against the Browns. However, Cleveland would rally back in the second half and win 21-16.

“Celebrating with my teammates after the touchdown was exciting,” Abanikanda said.

Canton provides a rare opportunity for both veterans and rookies to experience the brilliance of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For rookies especially, the idea of taking your first snaps while the bronze busts of every football immortal rests just outside the stadium, only amplifies the moment.

“It was beautiful,” Abanikanda said of visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “It just motivates me. My pops always talked about it when I was a kid. Just being in the Hall was amazing.”

As for the highlight of his trip? “Definitely when they showed the faces (bronze busts). I want to see my face up there one day.”

If that goal for Abanikanda comes to fruition, it started in Canton, Ohio.