Wilfork elected to Pats Hall of Fame
Beats out Vrabel, Mankins in fan vote
Big Vince is now a big Hall of Famer.
Former Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork was announced as the newest member of the Patriots Hall of Fame on Tuesday, having been elected by a fan vote over fellow finalists Mike Vrabel and Logan Mankins. Wilfork is the sixth Patriot to be elected in his first year of eligibility. In an afternoon conference call Tuesday, Wilfork revealed he missed a call in the morning from Patriots owner Robert Kraft before calling back and learning the good news.
“Being able to wake up to that beautiful music,” Wilfork said, “that beautiful news of being selected in the Patriots Hall of Fame, it means the world to me.”
The date and time of Wilfork’s induction ceremony outside the Hall has yet to be determined. Through the team, Kraft released a statement congratulating Wilfork on his election. He becomes the 32nd member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
“For more than a decade, Vince was a dominant defender in the trenches and anchored some of the best defenses in franchise history,” the statement read. “His contributions on the field propelled the Patriots to four Super Bowl appearances during his 11-year career. He was a big man with an even bigger personality and a huge heart.”
Wilfork spent 11 seasons in New England, after the team selected him in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Miami. He won two Super Bowls, earned five Pro Bowl honors and one All-Pro nod. After two ensuing years with the Texans, Wilfork returned to sign a one-day contract in August 2017 so he could retire a Patriot.
Wilfork credited Patriots coach Bill Belichick with maximizing his potential as a 6-foot-2, 325-pound defensive mismatch capable of playing across the defensive line. He called himself the best nose tackle to ever play the game. Wilfork also said he loved being a part of a great dynasty and organization in New England, and extended his compliments to the fan base.
“To be surrounded by great people in a great sports town, helped out tremendously,” he said. “People don’t get that. A lot of these (teams) don’t get what Boston has, with all professional sports. The one thing I really love about it, the fan base we have in Boston, you can’t compare.
“There’s something about being a New England guy, being a fan and playing sports there, one thing I know, the fans love their sports there and their athletes. And as athletes, we love to embrace that.”
Minutes after news broke of his election Tuesday, several Patriots coaches reacted to the news.
“Very versatile player, a great person off the field, (I) love spending time with him,” said Pats outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick. “(I) learned a lot from him as far as defensive line play and being a professional football player. (He) was a great leader in the locker room, brought a lot of guys together and (I) couldn’t be happier for Vince.”
As a player, Wilfork was a beloved teammate and seven-time captain.
“It was a great choice, and he deserves it. And I can’t wait to celebrate with him when the time comes,” said Patriots wide receivers coach Troy Brown, a teammate from 2004-07.
Brown later added: “Just an amazing athlete he was during that time, so got to love Vince. Didn’t take any junk from anybody, and really set the tone for that defense up front.”
In November, Patriots coach Bill Belichick called Wilfork one of the two best defensive linemen he’s ever coached, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Patriot Richard Seymour. Wilfork was named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2022 modern-era class in his first year of eligibility, but failed to advance to the pool of 15 finalists. He figures to be a Hall of Fame candidate for years to come.
“In a way Vince was almost impossible — he’s impossible to block in the running game,” Belichick said last year. “And in the passing game, there’s some guys that match up against him, but his overall strength and athleticism for his size was pretty impressive.”
Wilfork finished with 560 tackles, 16 sacks, five forced fumbles and three interceptions in 189 career regular-season games. But over those years of consistent excellence and production, he never once thought about joining the Patriots Hall of Fame.
“But now that it’s full circle, now that I’m done, now I can sit back, and now I can say I’m a Patriot Hall of Famer … it’s an honor to be regarded as one of the best that’s ever done it for the Patriots,” Wilfork said. “I love it.”