Pro Football Hall of Fame 2024: Complete List of NFL Inductees to Canton
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has been revealed, and seven members will be making their way to Canton, Ohio, this summer.
Here's a look at all of their resumes.
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Andre Johnson
Wide receiver Andre Johnson became the first-ever Houston Texan to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
It's easy to see why. The former Miami superstar snagged 1,062 passes for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns over his fantastic 14-year career (2003-2016).
The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro led the NFL in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons (2008 and 2009), and he caught 100 or more passes on five occasions. Johnson had 1,500 or more yards in three seasons and 1,100 or more in seven of them.
Johnson joined the Texans in their second year of existence (2003). He starred for the team in some lean years before Gary Kubiak took over as head coach and led them to more success.
His most impressive campaign may have been in 2012, a year after Johnson was limited to seven games due to a right hamstring injury. Impressively, Johnson came back better than ever in his 10th NFL season, catching 112 passes for a career-high 1,598 yards. Thanks largely to his efforts, Houston enjoyed its best-ever season (12-4) and made the AFC Divisional Round.
Devin Hester
The most electrifying returner in football history has taken his rightful place in the Hall.
Hester took the NFL by storm in 2006 for the eventual NFC champion Chicago Bears, amassing six special teams touchdowns (three punt returns, two kick returns and one missed field goal return).
The former University of Miami star then became the first person to ever begin a Super Bowl with a return touchdown when he took a kick 92 yards for a score.
Hester finished his career with 19 return touchdowns (14 punts, five kicks). He led the NFL in punt return yardage twice and kick return yardage twice.
Hester also played wide receiver, catching 255 passes for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Hester is a member of the Hall of Fame's 2000s and 2010s teams. He is a four-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler.
Dwight Freeney
One of the best pass-rushers the NFL has seen this century has found his Hall of Fame home.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney, a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, will head to Canton after a fantastic 16-year career (2002-2017).
He burst onto the scene in 2002 with the Indianapolis Colts by posting an NFL-high nine forced fumbles and a league-high 20 tackles for loss (13.0 sacks).
Freeney led the NFL with 16.0 sacks in 2004. Two years later, he helped guide the Colts to their first Super Bowl title in 36 seasons.
The former Syracuse star largely starred for the Colts (2002-2012) before finishing his career with five other teams over his last five seasons. He ended his NFL stint with 125.5 sacks (18th all-time).
Freeney earned a spot on the Hall of Fame's 2000s team, but now he'll be in Canton alongside a legion of legends.
Julius Peppers
There was little to no doubt that defensive end Julius Peppers would make the Hall of Fame at his first opportunity, and that's now come to fruition.
The former defensive end is a member of the Hall of Fame's 2000s and 2010s teams. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. Peppers ended his career with 159.5 sacks, fourth all-time. He also forced 52 fumbles and amassed 719 tackles.
Peppers had 10 or more sacks in 10 of his seasons. His excellence also stretched for the duration of his career, as he notably accumulated 11 sacks in 2017, his 16th NFL season.
He also missed just six games over his 17 NFL seasons.
Peppers also played for the UNC basketball team as a walk-on for two seasons. In his final game with the team, Peppers posted 21 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Penn State in the 2001 NCAA tournament.
But on Thursday, Pepper's NFL career was rightfully honored, and he is now a well-deserved first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Patrick Willis
Linebacker Patrick Willis played seven full NFL seasons (2007-2013). During that time, he made seven Pro Bowls and earned five first-team All-Pro selections. He is a member of the 2010s Hall of Fame team despite playing only four full seasons in that decade.
Needless to say, Willis made a great impact in a short of amount of time. He also won the Associated Press Rookie of the Year award in 2007 after amassing 174 tackles (136 solo). Willis also led the NFL with 152 tackles in 2009.
The 49ers enjoyed great team success under Willis after Jim Harbaugh became the team's head coach in 2011. Over a three-year period, the 49ers finished second, second and third in scoring defense. San Francisco made the NFC Championship Game all three seasons, winning it once.
Willis' 2014 season was cut short due to a left big toe injury. He retired after the season due to nagging feet injuries he played through during his career.
Willis played only eight seasons, but he was simply sensational during his brief time in the NFL, and now he takes his rightful place in the Hall.
Randy Gradishar
The Denver Broncos' Orange Crush defense of the 1970s featured some great players, including linebacker Randy Gradishar, a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.
The Associated Press' Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 suited up for the Broncos for his entire 10-year career (1974-1983). He never missed a game over that decade and was a full-time starter for the final nine years.
From 1976 to 1979, Denver finished sixth, third, second and fifth in scoring defense. Denver made the playoffs from 1977 to 1979, winning the AFC in 1977 after going 12-2.
Per the Broncos' official website, Gradishar is credited with 2,049 tackles, or roughly 205 per season over his career.
Steve McMichael
A key figure on the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears defense has found his way to Canton.
Defensive tackle Steve McMichael made the Hall as part of the Seniors category on Thursday. He'll forever be a legendary Bear after being part of a 1985 team that went 15-1 before engineering the most dominant playoff run in league history, outscoring opponents 91-10 en route to a Super Bowl XX victory.
McMichael also enjoyed a streak of 101 straight games started. He notably started every single game possible from 1984 to 1989. McMichael also never missed a game played from 1982 to 1994.
McMichael played in the NFL from 1980 to 1994. Thirteen of those seasons were with the Bears. He finished his career with 847 tackles and 95 sacks. He made two Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro selections.
Per the Hall of Fame's website, the tentative date for induction is Saturday, August 3, with the Hall of Fame Game two days earlier.
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