Canton, Ohio — Tony Boselli sees all the teal jerseys in the crowd and yells "Duuuuval."
Finally, a Jacksonville Jaguars player was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Boseli, the first-ever pick in Jaguars history, was enshrined at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday.He was one of his eight members in the 2022 class.
"Thank the gods of football. Thank the gods of the people of Jacksonville," Boselli said before letting the fans scream. This is the county name.
The No. 71 Boselli jersey filled the seats as the Jaguars faced off against his Raiders in Las Vegas on Thursday night in the NFL preseason opener. In his seven seasons with Jacksonville, Boselli, who was named to the Pro Bowl five times and his three-time All-Pro left tackle selection, had his career cut short by injuries. I saw it become However, his dominant performance earned him Gold his jacket.
"I am very honored," said Boselli.
Linebacker Sam Mills, defensive back Leroy Butler, defensive linemen Bryant Young and Richard Seymour, wide receiver Cliff Branch, coach Dick Vermeil and chief umpire. Long-serving Art McNally joined Boselli and waited years — decades — to get the call.
Young delivered a most moving speech in honor of his son Colby, who died of childhood cancer in 2016 at the age of 15.
"We want Colby to keep his memory alive. , promised to keep speaking his name," said Young. "Colby, you will live long in our hearts."[32][33] Young excelled in his tackles defensively at a time when the position had many talented players. During his 14-year career, which he spent with his San Francisco 49ers, he recorded 89 1/2 his sacks and earned his selection to four Pro Bowls.
Vermeil gave the longest speech, exceeding the eight minute limit by 15 seconds. A former Philadelphia coach for his Eagles, St. Louis for his Rams, and Kansas City for his Chiefs, he seemed to appreciate everyone who helped him get on stage.
He took credit for the successes of his players, with Warner and Hall of Famer Kurt, who was on Vermeil's "Greatest Show on Turf" Super Bowl Championship Team in St. Louis. Isaac He pointed out Bruce specifically.
"Oh my God, I wish I had time to check everyone," said Vermeil.
Anyway, he did.
Vermeil concluded the ceremony. Butler started it all.
The All-Pro he four-time safefielder entered with the same enthusiasm that Rambo celebrated his big play on the field.
"The most common thing DJ Khaled said was 'God did it,'" Butler begins, quoting the song. "Playing for the Green Bay Packers opens a lot of doors. Winning the Super Bowl opens more doors. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame opens football heaven. It's a rare company."
Butler was cheered by Jaguars fans in attendance to see Boselli inducted into the Hall of Fame when he mentioned growing up in Jacksonville.
"Thank you, Duvall," said Butler. "Growing up in poverty, my mother made us think about rich people every day. Not what they wear or what they have, but how they act."
62} Butler helped restore Green Bay to its glory days during a 12-year career. His versatility as a safety set a new wave standard at the position and earned him a spot in the All-Decade League of the 1990s.Butler started the "Rambo Leap" and played a key role in Green Bay's Super Bowl victory over New England. He is far from becoming the first player in league history to finish his career with 40 interceptions and 20 sacks. Mills and Branch, the 5-foot-9-inch linebackers dubbed "Mouse," were inducted posthumously.An inspirational figure, Mills overcame staggering odds to reach the NFL.
Mills was a Division III college he played football and was not drafted. He was cut by the CFL's Cleveland his Browns and Toronto his Argonauts and began his professional career with the USFL's Philadelphia Stars. Jim Mora, who was the Stars coach, brought him to New Orleans in 1986 and Mills never looked back.
"He was told he wasn't big enough to play college football and he wasn't big enough to play professional football. At 27, he wasn't big enough to play in the NFL. I wasn't young, but I'm still here.'Today we celebrate,' said Melanie Mills, Sam's widow.
Mills became an assistant to the Panthers after his retirement. became a coach. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer before his 2003 season, but continued coaching during treatment, and at the end of that season on the eve of the club's Super Bowl match against New England, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. gave a speech known as "Keep His Pounding".
Mills died in April 2005 at the age of 45. His "keep pounding" line remains a catchphrase for the Panthers.
Branch died of natural causes at the age of 71 and he was just over three years old, but he was one of the greatest threats of his time, and some of his greatest performances were It took place on the game's biggest stage and helped the Raiders win his three Super titles. bowl.
Branch became the first of three consecutive All-Pros on his team in his first season as a starter in 1974, and in the air he scored 67 touchdowns.
"Clifford was late. He wasn't denied," said his sister and presenter Elaine Anderson.
Year without first ballot candidate In addition, the Hall of Fame inductees endured a long wait to get into the Hall of Fame.
Defensive his tackle Richard Seymour didn't take long to find success in the NFL. He was part of his team to three Super Bowls in his first four seasons with the New England Patriots.
Seymour points out the defense of these teams. But it wasn't 'Don't mention Tom Brady'.
"We had a young quarterback and it worked," Seymour said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Seymour recorded his 57-and-a-half sacks in his 12 seasons, his first eight of his sacks in New England, and Oakland ending his Raiders career. I was.
"It is not what this says about me that matters, but what it says about us and what we can do together, so I am humbled." “I am overwhelmed,” he said.
Seymour, 42, thanked his wife Tanya:
"Football is what I do, but my family is mine," he said. rice field. "Thank you for everything you have added to my life. This day belongs to my family. The Bible teaches that your wealth is in your family."
Seymour called his three children "a supreme delight."
"Of all the things I have accomplished, there is no greater honor than being your father," he said.
Seymour praised Patriots owner Robert His Craft and former Raiders owner Al His Davis and his son Mark His Davis.
He attributes his success to the lessons he learned from the Patriots' Bill Belichick his coach: work hard, pay close attention to preparation, support teammates, and play against each other. Respect your opponent.
"Without Coach Belichick, none of this would have happened," said Seymour.
McNally delivered a video speech after being inducted as a contributor.
