A capsule look at those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday:
Dwight Freeney
Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
6-1, 268lb
Syracuse. Indianapolis Colts 2002-12, San Diego Chargers 2013-14, Arizona Cardinals 2015, Atlanta Falcons 2016, Detroit Lions/Seattle Seahawks 2017, 218 games.
Selected 11th overall in 2002 by the Indianapolis Colts...With Freeney appearing in all 16 games, eight as a starter, the Colts improved their defense from 29th overall in the NFL in 2001 to eighth in 2002. Freeney led the resurgent defensive line with a rookie-record 13 sacks to go with 20 tackles for loss on his way to NFL All-Rookie Team honors and a second-place finish in voting for AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Followed with three more seasons of double-digit sack totals, including a league-best 16 in 2004...For his career, Freeney totaled 125.5 sacks, 148 quarterback hits and 128 tackles for loss...was credited with 47 forced fumbles, a figure that is tied for fourth on the NFL’s all-time list, and twice forced three fumbles in a game...Appeared in 22 postseason contests, including three AFC Championship Games and two NFC Championship Games...Won a Super Bowl ring with the Colts and played in two other Super Bowls...for the post season, he totaled 11 sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Randy Gradishar
Linebacker
6-3, 233lb
Ohio State. Denver Broncos 1974-1983, 145 games.
Selected 14th overall in 1974 by the Denver Broncos...Prior to choosing Gradishar, the club had posted only one winning season and had never made the playoffs. With their new defensive leader, they totaled seven winning seasons and four playoff appearances in his 10-year career...In 1975 Gradishar led Denver in total tackles, beginning a streak of nine consecutive seasons...His dominance helped the Broncos to their first postseason berth in 1977, including an appearance in Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys. Gradishar recorded eight tackles in the both the AFC title game and Super Bowl...A career year followed in 1978, earning Gradishar countless accolades that included AP NFL Defensive MVP/Player of the Year, first-team All-Pro status, All-AFC and selection to the Pro Bowl. For his career, Gradishar is one of only 10 linebackers with at least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries...His unofficial 2,049 career tackles (tackles became an official stat in 2001) are still the most in Broncos history and would place him second all-time behind Hall of Famer Ray Lewis for most in the NFL.
Devin Hester
Kick Returner/Punt Returner/Wide Receiver
5-11, 190lb
Miami. Chicago Bears 2006-13, Atlanta Falcons 2014-15, Baltimore Ravens/Seattle Seahawks 2016, 156 games.
Selected 57th overall in the second-round of the 2006 draft by the Chicago Bears...2006 season, he returned 47 punts for 600 yards (12.8 average) and three TDs, 20 kickoffs for 528 yards (26.4 average) and two touchdowns and also returned a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown – one of only five such “kick-six” scores in a game...opened Super Bowl XLI with 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the only time in Super Bowl history that has occurred...Followed his All-Pro rookie season by setting more records in 2007. Among the many highlights in that All-Pro season was a game against Denver in which he returned both a punt (75 yards) and a kickoff (88 yards) for touchdowns. Overall that year, Hester returned four kickoffs and two punts for scores, establishing an NFL record for six combined kick returns for TDs...For his career, Hester took 14 punts and five kickoffs to the end zone in 156 regular-season games...was selected to play in four Pro Bowls (2007-08, 2011, 2015) and earned one of the two spots for return specialists on the NFL 100 All-Time Team. He also was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.
Andre Johnson
Wide Receiver
6-3, 229lb
Miami. Houston Texans 2003-14, Indianapolis Colts 2015, Tennessee Titans 2016, 193 games.
Selected third overall by the Houston Texans in 2003...Helped the Texans reach their first playoff berth in 2011. In 2008, he led the NFL in both receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,575). He followed up that All-Pro season with a league-best 1,569 receiving yards in 2009, another All-Pro season. Johnson also led the NFL with 103 catches in 2006 and finished his career with five 100-plus reception seasons — more than any current member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame...is one of three players along with Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson and Jerry Rice to lead the National Football League in receiving yards in back-to-back years...career stats include 1,062 catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns in 193 regular-season games. Following his final season in Houston, he held dozens of team records, including career receiving yards (13,591), career receptions (1,012) and most seasons (10) leading the team in receptions...retired following the 2016 season, he was tied for third in the NFL with three career games with 200 or more receiving yards. He received first-team All-Pro honors in 2008 and 2009 as well as second-team honors in 2006 and 2012. He was voted to seven Pro Bowls over a 10-year span (2005, 2007, 2009-2011, 2013-14)...first player inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor in 2017.
Steve McMichael
Defensive Tackle
6-2, 270lb
Texas. New England Patriots 1980, Chicago Bears 1981-1993, Green Bay Packers 1994, 213 games.
Selected 73rd overall in the third-round by the New England Patriots in 1980...At 6-feet-2 and 270 pounds, McMichael played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games for the Bears, becoming a starter at defensive tackle during the 1983 campaign. As a full-time starter, McMichael went on to earn two Pro Bowl nods (1986 and 1987) and three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections (1985-87)...helped the Bears set numerous defensive team records in 1984, including fewest yards allowed (3,863) and most sacks (72; McMichael had 10). The Bears’ 72 total sacks still stand as an NFL record...92.5 sacks for the Bears rank second in team history, behind Hall of Famer Richard Dent...in 1988 (11.5) and 1992 (10.5), McMichael led the team in the category, and he totaled seven seasons with eight or more.
Julius Peppers
Defensive End/Linebacker
6-7, 295lb
North Carolina. Carolina Panthers 2002-09, 2017-18, Chicago Bears 2010-13, Green Bay Packers 20014-16, 266 games.
Selected second overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2002...became one of the most dominant pass rushers of his era. Playing for three franchises over a 17-year career, Peppers was the single-season sack leader for each at least once (Carolina, seven seasons; Chicago, four; and Green Bay, one)...As a rookie, Peppers earned AP and PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year after averaging a sack per game, totaling 12...would register 10-plus sacks in 10 seasons, tied for third most in NFL history at the time of his retirement...first All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections came after the 2004 season, which saw the defensive end record 11 sacks, nine additional tackles for loss, nine passes defensed and a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown. In 2008, he helped the Panthers to a 12-4 record and first place in the NFC South, totaling 14.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss...2010, Peppers signed with the Chicago Bears, earning Pro Bowl honors and leading the team in sacks in all four years with the club. The Bears returned to the NFC Championship Game for only the second time since 1988...for his career, Peppers appeared and started in 18 playoff games, recording 49 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss...member of both the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 2000s and 2010s, Peppers’ 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the league’s all-time list.
Patrick Willis
6-1, 242lb
Mississippi. San Francisco 49ers 2007-14, 112 games.
Selected 11th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2007...won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and both the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award as the nation’s top collegiate linebacker his senior season at Mississippi...Rookie season he totaled 174 tackles, four sacks and eight tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and defensed five passes. For his efforts, he earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award from the Associated Press, was named a first-team All-Pro and was the only rookie defensive player invited to the Pro Bowl — his first of seven consecutive selections to that game in an injury-shortened eight-year career...continued to build his reputation and resume in 2008 and came back in 2009 with perhaps his best overall season statistically: 152 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, eight pass deflections and career-bests with three interceptions and 13 tackles for loss. He won the NFL’s version of the Butkus Award, then in its second season. He also won the Bill Walsh Award as the 49ers most valuable player...2011, he anchored one of the NFL’s top defenses, which set an NFL record by not allowing a rushing touchdown until Week 16. The 49ers finished 13-3, won the NFC West for first time since 2002 and reached the NFC title game. One year later, they played in the Super Bowl, with Willis contributing 10 tackles in the loss to the Ravens...finished his career with 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions and 16 forced fumbles. He was selected to the NFL’s All Decade Team of the 2010s and was a five-time AP first-team All-Pro.
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