We saw the black-and-blue marks at the kitchen table. We saw the bruises on his arms, the cuts on his fingers, and the scrapes on his elbows. Whenever one of us kids would ask him about it, he’d just smile and say, “Oh, it’s okay.”
He had twelve surgeries during his career. With all those aches and pains, he didn’t exactly have a lot of sympathy when one of us kids came crying. I remember one time, I stubbed my toe, and he said sarcastically, “Uh-oh, better go call 911.” It was a funny moment—until my little sister, Juju, called 911.
As long as I’m telling you family secrets, let me tell you another one. After the Broncos won their first Super Bowl, I asked my dad to quit. I told him I wanted him to be happy, to go out on top. But he wouldn’t do it. Dad, let me tell you something I’ve never told you before, and I’ll probably never tell you again. Thanks for not listening to me.
John Elway
Someone asked me the other day if I had any regrets about my career. There’s only one, and that’s that my father, Jack, and my sister, Jana, couldn’t be here.
My dad wasn’t just my best friend, he was my hero, my mentor, and my inspiration. He was the keeper of my reality checklist, and the compass that guided my life and my career. And he taught me the number one lesson of my life—always make your family proud. Now that he’s gone, I thank God every day for letting him see the Broncos win two Super Bowls.
My dad didn’t so much teach me how to play football, but why to play it. He taught me to compete, to never give up, to play every down like it’s your last. He taught me to appreciate the game, to respect it, to play it like it was meant to be played. He taught me to enjoy my successes and learn from my failures. And above all, he told me, “Make sure when you go out with your offensive linemen, you pick up the tab.”
My dad isn’t here today, but my other hero is. But then, you’ve always been there for me, Mom. Thank you. I hope I’ve made you proud today and every other day. You think going ninety-eight yards in the fourth quarter against the Browns was tough? Try cooking breakfast and dinner every day and raising three kids while your husband is off coaching. Try driving your son all over town so he could chase his dreams. And try doing it in your spare time after working forty hours a week.
I’m going to tell a little secret that my mom and I had. It was when we were going to Super Bowl XXXII against the Packers. My mom was over and sat in my house and offered these heartfelt words of encouragement, words only a mother could say to her son—“Do we really have to go back to the Super Bowl?” I knew right then that we’d better win that one or she’d never go back. Thanks, Mom. I love you.
I’d also like to thank my many teammates—Granada Hills, Stanford University, and the Denver Broncos. I’d like to name every one of you here today, but time won’t allow. Just know that I’m proud to have called you my friends and my teammates. This bust here would not be here, and neither would I, if it weren’t for you guys.
People sometimes don’t realize how dependent the quarterback is on his teammates to do their jobs. For every guy that ever stepped onto a field with me, I accept this honor today on behalf of all of you. Thanks for protecting me, catching my passes, defending our goal line, for sharing my highs and lows. And more than anything, thanks for not losing confidence in me when I lined up for a snap as a rookie behind the left guard.
Reggie White
Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and
Carolina Panthers Defensive Lineman
Class of 2006
White retired as the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 198. He was named All-Pro thirteen of his fifteen seasons, including ten as a first-team selection. He was voted to thirteen straight Pro Bowls.
Presented by His Son, Jeremy White
Reggie was an honest, humble, honorable, dedicated, determined, passionate, and caring man. He is inducted today not only because of his athletic achievements, but because he was a great player on the field in accordance with being a great person throughout life.
If life were to have a Hall of Fame for people who were important in society, I would be so bold as to say that my dad would be in the life Hall of Fame. His passion for God, his love for his family and community, and his dedication toward making the world a better place would at least get him nominated.
He always used to say that after he passed away, he wanted people to remember what he did away from the football field rather than being remembered for the records he broke, the games he won, the quarterbacks he sacked. Reggie will always be remembered as the man he was. He was a compassionate father, a loving husband, a selfless friend, and a loyal teammate. I know that he will be an inspiration to countless people who want to make their dream a reality, whatever their dream might be.
Even though Reggie is not here to receive this great honor the NFL has allowed him to receive, I know he is with us. He is with us in spirit, but most of all he is with us in our memories. As long as we continue to remember anyone we have lost, they are never completely gone. They are with us. The legacy that he leaves behind is what he taught everyone he met. He will live on through everything he taught. And if what we have learned and our memories of him live on, then in essence, Reggie and his legacy will continue to live on.
If people can remember that about anyone they have lost, they will realize that memories should bring joy, not sadness.
Accepting on Behalf of Reggie White, His Wife, Sara White
When I met Reggie White twenty-five years ago as a friend, I never dreamed that I would be here, let alone make this speech, let alone have the NFL career that we had together as a family. I praise the Father that I had kids who understood that their father gave of himself to so many people. Some may look at it as neglect, but we look at it as a way to reach out to people. We look at it as compassionate. We look at it as it lifts us up. The more people we help, the more people we influence, the better we are.
And just to let you know, Reggie was no phony. He stood for what he believed in. That’s the thing I want to encourage you. Whatever you believe in, you stand on your principles. Do not let anyone sway you.
Often people ask: “How have you made it? How are you so strong? How do you mourn?” Everybody mourns differently, and we can’t judge those who mourn outside or inside. And everybody treats death differently. But praise the Father, I know that this is not the last stop for any of us. I know where Reggie is, because I understand what he’s doing and his purpose. He lived forty-three years. He’s done so many things that people have not done at seventy years old.
But they ask me, “How can you be so happy? How do you survive?” Well, first of all, I have to be. You just can’t lay down. But my motto is: Forgive, live, love, laugh, and pray. And that’s how I’ve been holding my strength together for my family.
One last thing. We’re talking about history. We knew Reggie, Reggie’s history in football. Just like Jeremy said, “Reggie’s legacy will live on through you. If you continue to do what you need to do, and your family first, your community, your school, at your work job, your legacy, you would take Reggie’s spirit and legacy with you because that’s what he would want you to do.”
Remember, it’s not how you die—it wasn’t about Reggie’s death—it’s how he lived. I encourage you to live like Reggie lived.
Thurman Thomas
Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins Running Back
Class of 2007
Thomas amassed 16,532 total yards, including 12,074 rushing yards. He scored eighty-eight touchdowns. He is the only player in history to lead the league in yards from scrimmage in four straight seasons.
Presented by Chiefs and Bills Coach Marv Levy
Twenty years ago today, neither I nor hardly anybody else in Buffalo knew who that fella sitting over there was. And several months later, on draft day 1988 when our Buffalo Bills were in dire need of an outstanding running back, we found ourselves in the forlorn position of not having a first-round draft choice.
Well, when our turn to pick f
inally came, seven running backs had already been selected. Well, I’ll tell you, I was disheartened. But our running backs coach, the always astute Elijah Pitts, was elated. The one he had hoped for all along was still available.
Well, that prospect that Elijah coveted so much was about five feet nine inches tall, weighed less than 200 pounds, and was still laboring to recover from a very severe knee injury. Elijah was ardently persuasive, however, stressing not only this fella’s abilities, but he assured me as well that the man was a team player, a person of high character.
“Well, what the heck,” I said, “let’s take a long shot chance on this guy. What did you say his name was again, Eli?” Well, it didn’t take me or anyone else who loves NFL football very long to learn that his name was Thurman Thomas.
How lucky could a coach get? How lucky could his teammates get? I must admit, however, that just two weeks after the beginning of training camp that rookie year, I did seek a clarification from Elijah.
“Eli,” I asked, “did you say this guy has character or that he is a character?”
Our coaches and players soon learned that both descriptions applied. Yeah, this man could really play, and he was fun, too—unless, of course, you had to play defense against him. Then he wasn’t.
Most of all he contributed immensely to that fantastic team mentally that was so representative of the Buffalo Bills during Thurman’s playing days there. Possessing a bubbling and extroverted personality, he was one of the most unselfish players I have ever known. On a team with many stars, never did I hear a complaint from him about not getting the ball enough, or about being taken out of the game even down at the goal line.
I also don’t believe there has ever been a more complete player at his position than Thurman.
Thurman Thomas
For real, Marv [Levy], you are my inspiration. I wanted to play my best because I never wanted to disappoint you. You made me feel like every extra effort I made for the Bills was appreciated.
Marv, I remember my first game against the Houston Oilers, I spiked the ball. When I came over to the sideline, you had this look in your eye like you were very upset at me. You grabbed me by my jersey and said, “Why did you spike the ball?”
I said, “Coach, every little kid that ever watches football at least wants to do that at least one time in his career.” He said, “Well, that’s great, don’t ever do it again. Act like you’ve been there before.” After that, I never spiked the ball again.
Someone once told me I needed to enjoy every minute of my football career because when it ended I would miss it. I look at all of you today and every memory comes back. The memories are amazing, of a time when teammates were like brothers—regardless of race, religion, or politics—we all got in trouble just because how close we were. The wives didn’t completely understand our camaraderie, which I think at least now most of them do.
To feel that rush again, I just walk through the front doors of my house and see Olivia, my oldest daughter. When she comes home from school, my little University of Florida Gator, with her amazing heart and sense of responsibility, I’m sure her little brother and two sisters know that they couldn’t have been blessed with a more loving and outstanding role model.
To Angel, my free-spirited, beautiful, kindhearted comedian. If Angel can’t brighten your day, make you smile, then you have to be a pretty tough cookie. I can be madder than a junkyard dog and she can make me laugh.
My ten-year-old sweet little Annika Lee. We wanted a boy so bad that we were blessed again with another girl. All I can say is thank you, God, for giving us that little girl. She is growing up to be just as lovely and beautiful as her sister.
Last but not least we decided to give it one more try. We prayed hard and we finally got our little man, Thurman III. He is everything that we had dreamed for, a blend of all five of us. Little Thurman, Daddy loves you.
To my wife, Patti, what a design only God could have planned. I was a senior at Oklahoma State when I met a freshman golfer from Buffalo, New York. We dated my senior year. I got drafted to her hometown of Buffalo, New York. That’s been almost twenty years. I sit here today and I say thank you, Patti, my friend, my wife, mother of my kids. It’s been twenty years since we’ve been together, and I would like to take this time and this opportunity to let it be another twenty years we can spend together, but also with the plan of asking you, “Will you marry me again?”
Bruce Matthews
Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans
Offensive Lineman
Class of 2007
Named to a record-tying fourteen straight Pro Bowls, Matthews played in 296 games, the most by a positional player at the time of his retirement.
Presented by Oilers and Titans Guard Mike Munchak
I don’t know if there’s ever been another player like Bruce Matthews in the NFL, and I don’t know if there will ever be another one again.
Bruce and I have a unique relationship. I was his teammate for eleven years, his coach for eight years, but, more importantly, he has been like family to me for the past twenty-four years.
We played together on the offensive line for the Houston Oilers for more than a decade. I played left guard, he played everywhere else. His work ethic, his competitiveness, his passion for the game were contagious. I know that he motivated me to become a better player. Many of his former teammates, several who are here today, would say the same. He raised the standard for all of us.
Competitive is the word that best describes Bruce. His desire to be the best is unmatched. He wants to win at everything he does: a sport, a video game, even an argument. He can claim an opinion he doesn’t even believe in just to see if he can still win the argument.
Classic Bruce, though, is when you’re in a car with him and a song comes on the radio. He immediately yells out the name of the song and the artist. He would say, “Springsteen, ‘Glory Days’—bam!” Even though no one else is playing this game, he’s still competing.
Bruce’s competitive spirit was his secret weapon and a reason why he played nineteen seasons. It kept him young at heart. He always found a way to make it fun, and it showed on the field every Sunday.
Bruce and I have followed parallel paths during our days in the NFL. We were drafted a year apart by the Houston Oilers in the first round. As offensive linemen, we had similar successes on the field. We shared sweet victories and unfortunately some tough losses.
We have been business partners. We were married two weeks apart. Our wives, Marci and Carrie, of twenty-four years became best of friends, and our children are like brothers and sisters. Because of our similar experiences, we developed a special bond that goes way beyond the football field. There were many nights after we put our kids to bed that we’d get together and talk for hours. Sometimes we would just sit outside on Bruce’s ranch and have a beer, other times we’d go bowling or play some one-on-one basketball, which I guess I’ll admit he usually won.
But during this time together, we’d have great discussions about our careers, our families, and our Christian walks. We were always there to encourage or challenge each other as we worked our ways through life’s ups and downs.
Now that Bruce is retired from the NFL, these talks have continued over the phone lines. Bruce, I just want you to know I’ve always appreciated your advice and honesty over the years. You’ve been a great example to me of what it takes to be a good husband, father, and Christian. I’m blessed to know you.
Bruce Matthews
Many people never had anyone that they looked up to while they were growing up, but I was blessed to have two people in my house who were my role models. The first was my father, Clay Sr. He is, without a doubt, the man I most admire and respect in this world.
He played in the early 1950s for the San Francisco 49ers. Although I never saw him play, I can only imagine he would have been a handful to play against. My dad taught me about doing what was right no matter what the cost, never quitting, and what it meant to be a man of
integrity.
One of my finest memories of the day the Hall-of-Fame results were announced was three or four hours later after the phone lines had cleared and I finally had a chance to talk to my dad. I said, “Dad, did you hear the news?” My dad jokingly said, “Yeah, I didn’t make it in again. I guess I’m no longer eligible.”
Obviously we had a great laugh, and I just want to say, Pop, I love you very much. I still respect and admire you.
My next role model was my older brother, Clay. Cleveland Brown. He is five years older than me. So as I grew up, he was the one I wanted to be like. He was and still is my favorite player of all time. I love to brag to teammates about him.
He played linebacker for the Cleveland Browns for sixteen years and the Atlanta Falcons for three years. Since the Browns were a division rival of the Oilers, I got to play against him twenty-three times. Getting to play against your idol twice a year was one of the highlights of my career, and it was always something I looked forward to. I especially loved to play in Cleveland and check out all the banners and number 57 jerseys in the crowd, see how much they loved him and still do.
I always felt as though I was witnessing something special, something that nobody else had had the opportunity to do in the history of the game. My favorite part of game week was Wednesday morning when our offensive coordinator would give an overview of the Browns’ defense. I would beam with pride as he talked about how we would deal with my brother. I had to learn to watch every play on film twice: First time I watched my brother, and then the second time I had to watch the guy who I was supposed to block.
My hope was that my brother would have a great game individually, but we would win the game. Although it ended up pretty even. One of us won 12 and one of us won 11. As many times as I counted, I can’t remember who won the most.
Those games proved challenging and I would find my mind wandering, wondering how my brother was doing. It took me a couple of years to learn how to prepare and play against him.
The Class of Football Page 8
