Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week

Jul 31, 2024

PFRPA

This week marks the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, a key and historic annual event. On Saturday, August 3, 2024, seven retired NFL players will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024 in Canton, Ohio.

The seven inductees into the Class of 2024 are:

Dwight Freeney - Defensive End/Outside Linebacker (Indianapolis Colts, 2002-2012; San Diego Chargers, 2013-2014; Arizona Cardinals, 2015; Atlanta Falcons, 2016; Seattle Seahawks, 2017; Detroit Lions, 2017)
Randy Gradishar - Linebacker (Denver Broncos, 1974-1983)
Devin Hester - Wide Receiver/Punt Returner/Kick Returner (Chicago Bears, 2006-2013; Atlanta Falcons 2014-2015, Baltimore Ravens, 2016; Seattle Seahawks, 2016)
Andre Johnson - Wide Receiver (Houston Texans, 2003-2014; Indianapolis Colts, 2015; Tennessee Titans, 2016)
Steve McMichael - Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle (New England Patriots, 1980; Chicago Bears, 1981-1993; Green Bay Packers, 1994)
Julius Peppers - Defensive End (Carolina Panthers, 2002-2009 and 2017-2018; Chicago Bears, 2010-2013; Green Bay Packers, 2014-2016)
Patrick Willis - Linebacker (San Francisco 49ers, 2007-2014)

Among this list of outstanding retired NFL players are two PFRPA members, Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael.

Randy Gradishar

Gradishar played the entirety of his ten NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos between 1974-1983. A standout linebacker, Gradishar was a key part of the Broncos' "Orange Crush" defense, which became renowned for its toughness and effectiveness.

Gradishar was known for his exceptional playmaking ability and leadership on the field, leading the Broncos in tackles multiple times throughout his career. His contributions were pivotal in helping the Broncos reach their first Super Bowl appearance during the 1977 season (Super Bowl XII).

His impressive list of career accolades include:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978)
Selected to the Pro Bowl seven times (1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983)
Named First-Team All-Pro twice (1977, 1978)
Named Second-team All-Pro three times (1979, 1981, 1983)

Gradishar was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1989; named to the Broncos All-Time Team; and recognized as one of the top 50 players in Denver Broncos history.

Steve McMichael

McMichael commenced his fifteen-year NFL career with the New England Patriots in 1980, before joining Pro Football Hall of Famer and PFRPA Board Member Mike Singletary at the Chicago Bears in 1981, where he remained until 1993. McMichael was known for his relentless style of play and became a cornerstone of the Bears’ defensive line, as well as a key figure in one of the most dominant defenses of the era.

Renowned for his durability and consistency, McMichael played in every game for the Bears from 1982 to 1990 (191 consecutive games). His leadership and performance were crucial during the Bears' notably successful 1985 season, where he played an integral part in their Super Bowl XX championship.

In addition to be becoming a Super Bowl champion, McMichael’s impressive list of accolades also include:

Selected to the Pro Bowl twice (1986, 1987)
Named First-Team All-Pro twice (1985, 1987)
Named Second-Team All-Pro three times (1986, 1988, 1991)
Named in the Pro Football Reference 1980's All-Decade Team

McMichael was also named in the Top 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time, and the Chicago Bears’ All-Time Team. He played his final season with the Green Bay Packers, concluding his extraordinary NFL career in 1994 after 213 games, 95 sacks, 847 tackles, 17 fumble recoveries and 13 forced fumbles.

PFRPA congratulates Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and the wider Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on etching their names in NFL history. Their extraordinary careers and the contributions they have made to the game are highly commendable.