Dwight Freeney was too short. Devin Hester undersized, and without a natural NFL position. Julius Peppers and Andre Johnson? Physical freaks and blue-chip talents viewed as potential greats.
On Saturday, a new and lasting label applies: Hall of Famer.
San Francisco 49ers tackle machine Patrick Willis, Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar -- on his 35th year of eligibility -- and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael (25th year of eligibility) also are part of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class voted into legendary status to be recognized in Canton, Ohio, this weekend. McMichael, who is battling ALS, will be awarded his golden jacket and bust by Hall of Fame president Jim Porter as part of the class enshrinement ceremony on Saturday.
At 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds, the ageless Peppers, the only member of the class voted in on the first ballot, was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft and played 17 years with the Carolina Panthers, Bears and Green Bay Packers. Peppers was fourth on all-time sacks list with 159.5 when he retired and is the only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 or more interceptions. He ranks second all-time with 52 career forced fumbles and, in a nod to his longevity, the six-time All-Pro was on the NFL's all-decade team for the 2000s and 2010s.
Former Panthers coach John Fox and ex-Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme said Peppers' greatness was something to behold. More athletic than tight ends, faster than running backs and stronger than blockers, he was a one-man show at practice and on game day.
"When you are so exceptional amongst your peers, and you do it on such a regular basis, you can't throw the guy a parade every day, right? And it probably wasn't fair to him that we all just expected greatness on such a regular basis," said Greg Olsen, who played with Peppers with the Bears and in his late-career return to Carolina.
The Indianapolis Colts ignored prototypes and selected Freeney 11th overall in the same draft (2002). He quickly joined the Indianapolis core that won Super Bowl XLI and played in two others and was informed of his selection in February by fellow Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, the longtime coach of the Colts.
Freeney was eight inches shorter and 27 pounds lighter than Peppers. He flourished in Dungy's defensive scheme. The three-time first-team All-Pro retired with 125.5 sacks, 148 quarterback hits and 128 tackles for loss and still ranks third all-time -- close behind Peppers -- with 47 forced fumbles in his 16 pro seasons.
"He was tremendous, and he was in the perfect situation," said Dungy, who is on the Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
"We played on AstroTurf. We had the lead a lot. People were going to have to throw against us. That was the reason we selected him, and he certainly validated all of our beliefs. He played great football for us."
Former Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly openly debated where Johnson ranks among all-time greats in 2016, long before Johnson was in the formal Gold Jacket conversation. He did not focus on the natural traits -- size, speed, power, explosiveness -- but credited Johnson's unparalleled work ethic for his success.
"Jerry Rice is acknowledged as the best receiver in football. I'll say this, Andre had as much talent as Jerry Rice, he just didn't play for the 49ers with a Super Bowl team and Hall of Fame quarterbacks in their prime. He's as good as Jerry Rice, in my opinion, in all areas -- including work ethic," Casserly said.
Johnson stood apart with his ability to find the end zone. The Texans' first-round pick in 2003 finished his career with 1,062 catches and 70 touchdowns, and he finished with seven 1,000-yard seasons during his 14-year career.
Hester was used as a wide receiver in the NFL, but his achievements on special teams for transformational. He holds the NFL record with 20 overall return touchdowns, as well as the league record with 14 punt return TDs. Hester's highlights included returning the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown against Indianapolis. He also caught 255 passes for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns during his career.
"All week, we weren't going to kick to him. Saturday night, the team meeting we kind of got fired up, 'he's not that good, we can kick to him,'" Peyton Manning, the winning quarterback in that Super Bowl, recalled in a TV interview earlier this year. "I'm like, 'Who's idea was that?' At the Super Bowl, opening kickoff, everyone's taking pictures with flash photography. I was literally looking up at the stands at that, and I'm like, 'I haven't heard a whistle yet.' That's because Devin Hester's running 103 yards for a touchdown."
Willis' wait ended after five years of eligibility. Although his career was shortened because of injuries, he was a five-time All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl pick in eight years with the 49ers.
The Hall of Fame Senior Committee selected the two senior-most members of the class.
Nobody waited longer than Gradishar, who played from 1974-83 and was a finalist three previous times. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and member of the "Orange Crush" defense, Gradishar had 2,049 tackles and was the NFL's leader at the time of his retirement.
McMichael, affectionately known as "Mongo" by Bears fans, was a key part of Chicago's 1985 Super Bowl championship team. The defensive lineman finished his career with 95 sacks and 13 forced fumbles and gained notoriety for his fearless playing style as a stout and scrappy 270-pound nose tackle.
--Field Level Media
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