NFL Hall of Fame
Who: Kicker Morten Andersen; running back Terrell Davis; safety Kenny Easley; owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones; defensive end Jason Taylor; running back LaDainian Tomlinson; and quarterback Kurt Warner. What: Enshrinement ceremony
When: 5 p.m. MDT Saturday Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio TV: ESPN and NFL Network Story: Davis gets his jacket.
CANTON, OHIO» Stamped inside Terrell Davis’ newest piece of clothing is a patch that reads: “Terrell Davis Class of 2017.” Davis, the Broncos’ all-time leading rusher and 21st member of their Ring of Fame, is officially a member of a new class.
On Friday evening, Davis and the rest of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 received their signature gold jackets in a ceremony attended by many members of years past.
For the 15 years since he retired and the 11 since he became eligible for the Hall, Davis awaited this moment. Each passing year and all 10 rejections before made acceptance into the Hall that much sweeter.
“This is what you look forward to — you get the jacket on,” Davis said. “I just tried to have a clear mind about it and not think about anything but the moment.”
After his name was called during introductions, tears filled Davis’ eyes as he glanced over at his wife and children. Then he gave three Mile High Salutes and slowly made his way through “the gauntlet,” a catwalk lined by fellow Hall of Famers.
Shaking hand after hand, he made his way to the small stage in the middle of the auditorium inside the Canton Civic Center.
“I always get emotional when I think about my family. That was it,” Davis said. “I was pretty good going down the gauntlet, but then when I got to the end I saw them and I was like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s a happy time. We’re blessed. It was just great to have them there and to see this moment and to share this with them.”
Moments later Davis returned to the stage, following a short highlight reel of his seven-year career. His agent Neil Schwartz stood alongside him, gold jacket in hand. On cue, Schwartz pulled off Davis’ gray suit jacket and slid the mustard-gold jacket over his shoulders.
“You saw when my jacket came off I was pretty excited to get this jacket on,” Davis said. “When you put it on, it makes it official. I’m a Hall of Famer now.”