As a new NFL season quickly approaches, one tradition never gets old: the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game and Enshrinement Week. Seven former players will be welcomed into the prestigious club this weekend following the Houston Texans-Chicago Bears game.
Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Dwight Freeney; Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar; Chicago Bears return specialist and wide receiver Devin Hester; Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael will be honored this weekend as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Check out their career highlights below.
Dwight Freeney
NFL Career: 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts; 2013-2014 San Diego Chargers; 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions
Career Highlights: Super Bowl XLI Champion, 3x First-team All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2009), Second-team All-Pro (2003), 7x Pro Bowl (2003-2005, 2008-2011), 2004 NFL Sack Leader, 2002 NFL Forced Fumbles Co-Leader, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, 2002 PFWA All-Rookie Team, Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor, 2001 Unanimous All-American, 2001 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 2x First-team All-Big East (2000, 2001), Syracuse Orange No. 54 retired
Career NFL Stats: 332 total tackles, 125.5 sacks, 47 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 17 pass deflections, one defensive touchdown
Randy Gradishar
NFL Career: 1974-1983 Denver Broncos
Career Highlights: 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 2x First-team All-Pro (1977, 1978), 3x Second-team All-Pro (1979, 1981, 1983), 7x Pro Bowl (1975, 1977-1979, 1981-1983), Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, 1973 Unanimous All-American, 1972 Consensus All-American (1972), 3x First-team All-Big Ten (1971-1973), Ohio State Varsity Hall of Fame, Ohio State Football All-Century Team
Career NFL Stats: 19.5 sacks, 20 interceptions, four touchdowns, 2,049 tackles
Devin Hester
NFL Career: 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
Career Highlights: 3x First-team All-Pro (2006, 2007, 2010), Second-team All-Pro (2011), 4x Pro Bowl (2006, 2007, 2010, 2014), 2x NFL kickoff return yards leader (2013, 2014), 2x NFL punt return yards leaders (2006, 2010), 3x NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2010), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, 2006 PFWA All-Rookie Team, 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time, 2004 First-team All-American, 2x First-team All-ACC (2004, 2005), University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
Career NFL Stats: 255 receptions, 3,311 receiving yards, 16 receiving touchdowns, 7,333 kickoff return yards, 3,696 punt return yards, 20 kickoff return touchdowns, 14 punt return touchdowns
Andre Johnson
NFL Career: 2003-2014 Houston Texans,2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
Career Highlights: 2x First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009), 2x Second-team All-Pro (2006, 2012), 7x Pro Bowl (2004, 2006, 2008-2010, 2012, 2013), 2x NFL receptions leader (2006, 2008), 2x NFL receiving yards leader (2008, 2009), 2003 PFWA All-Rookie Team, Houston Texans Ring of Honor, 2001 BCS National Champion, 2002 Third-team All-American, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Houston Sports Hall of Fame
Career NFL Stats: 1,062 receptions, 14,185 receiving yards, 70 receiving touchdowns
Patrick Willis
NFL Career: 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Career Highlights: 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 5x First-team All-Pro (2007, 2009-2012), Second-team All-Pro (2008), 7x Pro Bowl (2007, 2013), 2x NFL solo tackles leaders (2007, 2009), 2x NFL combined tackles leader (2007, 2009), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, 2009 Butkus Award, 2007 PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team, San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, 2006 Butkus Award (college), 2006 Jack Lambert Trophy, 2006 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 2006 Consensus All-American, 2005 First-team All-American, 2x First-team All-SEC (2005, 2006)
Career NFL Stats: 950 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 53 pass deflections, eight interceptions, 131 interception yards, two defensive touchdowns
Steve McMichael
NFL Career: 1980 New England Patriots, 1981-1993 Chicago Bears, 1994 Green Bay Packers
Career Highlights: Super Bowl XX Champion, 2x First-team All-Pro (1985, 1987), 3x Second-team All-Pro (1986, 1988, 1991), 2x Pro Bowl (1986, 1987), PFR’s 1980s All-Decade Team, 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time, Chicago Bears All-Time Team, 1979 Unanimous All-American, 2x First-team All-SWC (1978, 1979), Second-team All-SWC (1977)
Career NFL Stats: 847 total tackles, 95 sacks, three safeties, 13 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, one interception
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