Tag: Canton

Aug 4, 2023; Canton, OH, USA; A general overall view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Waiting for Gold: Class of ’25 finalists anxious to hear Hall of Fame fate

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fifteen former players will take a deep breath and hope to hear their name called when the Pro Football Hall of Fame announces its newest slate of modern-era selections on Thursday night ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee can elect up to five players from the 15-member list. The announcement will air during the NFL Honors broadcast starting at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday on Fox and the NFL Network.

The group includes six first-time nominees: Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr., Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda. Nine other nominees return as finalists, with Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne experiencing the longest waits as they enter their sixth cycle hoping to be selected.

Manning said he was trying to keep this week in perspective as he waits to hear whether he is a first-ballot selection into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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“It’s one of those things, you can’t control it,” Manning said to NFL Network. “So why worry about it? You’ll know one way or the other.

“It’s not that I’m not going to lose sleep over this. … (But) I’m going to enjoy being in New Orleans no matter what.”

Vinatieri also spoke about his nerves heading into the selection. He is hoping to become the third primary kicker to reach the Hall of Fame, joining Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen.

“Holding my breath, obviously, but there’s no guarantee at this level,” Vinatieri said to radio station WEEI in Boston. “Everybody that’s in the top 15 is definitely worthy, and probably rightfully so. We’ll see. I don’t know what the expectation should be, but I’m very optimistic.”

Five defensive players are among the 15 finalists: ends Jared Allen and Suggs, linebacker Kuechly, cornerback Eric Allen and safety Darren Woodson. A trio of offensive linemen — Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans and Yanda — also are on the list.

Running back Fred Taylor, wideouts Smith Sr., Holt and Wayne, and tight end Antonio Gates also are on the doorstep of hearing their name called.

In addition to the 15 modern-era finalists, the selection committee reviews three senior finalists, one coach and one contributor. The committee can select up to eight people from all of the groups of finalists.

The senior finalists are Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer. Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Holmgren and contributor Ralph Hay also are candidates.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony is expected to take place during the first week of August in Canton. The ceremony will be part of an Enshrinement Week that also is set to include the annual preseason Hall of Fame Game and the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner.

Modern-era finalists:

CB Eric Allen (two-time finalist); 14 seasons: 1988-94 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
The six-time Pro Bowl player from Arizona State finished with 54 career interceptions, which ranks No. 21 all time. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for eighth in NFL history.

DE Jared Allen (five-time finalist); 12 seasons: 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
A fourth-round draft pick from Idaho State, the four-time All-Pro had 136 sacks. Every player ahead of him on the all-time sack list, other than fellow first-time finalist Terrell Suggs, is in the Hall of Fame

OT Willie Anderson (four-time finalist); 13 seasons: 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Anderson started 184 of 195 career games and was named to four Pro Bowls in a row from the 2003-06 seasons. He blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers in his career, and he helped pave the way for Corey Dillon to set single-game records for rushing yards by a rookie (246) and rushing yards by any player (278). Each record stood for nearly three years, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

G Jahri Evans (two-time finalist); 12 seasons: 2006-16 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
Evans greatly overachieved as a fourth-round pick (No. 108 overall) out of Division II Bloomsburg (Pa.) University. He started each of the 183 games in which he played, and he was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls from the 2009-14 seasons. He was part of a Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV, and he was named to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2021.

TE Antonio Gates (two-time finalist); 16 seasons: 2003-18 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
Gates entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent after playing basketball at Kent State. He went on to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection caught 116 touchdown passes, which ranks No. 1 all time among tight ends and No. 7 all time among all receivers. He had 21 career multi-touchdown games, which also is the most by any tight end. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

WR Torry Holt (six-time finalist); 11 seasons: 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Holt was a key member of the “Greatest Show on Turf” teams in St. Louis that included Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Proehl and others. To cap his rookie season, he had seven catches for a 109 yards and a touchdown to help the Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 2000 and 2003, and he had 80-plus catches in eight consecutive seasons. Holt was named to seven Pro Bowls.

LB Luke Kuechly (first-time eligible, finalist); 8 seasons: 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
As the No. 9 overall pick out of Boston College in 2012, Kuechly immediately took over as the heart of the Panthers’ defense. He twice led the NFL in tackles, including in his rookie season. He topped 100 tackles in each of his eight seasons, and he also notched 18 interceptions, 12.5 sacks and 31 quarterback hits in his career. He won the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the NFL in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and a five-time All-Pro before retiring at age 28 after suffering multiple concussions in his career.

QB Eli Manning (first-time eligible, finalist); 16 seasons: 2004-2019 New York Giants
Peyton’s little brother was the No. 1 pick in 2004 by the Chargers and was traded to the New York Giants, where he spent 16 seasons, started 210 consecutive games (of 236), won two Lombardi trophies and was two-time Super Bowl MVP.

WR Steve Smith Sr. (first-time finalist); 16 seasons: 2001-13 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens
The Panthers selected Smith in the third round (No. 74) out of Utah in 2001, and he quickly emerged as a top-tier talent. He was the only rookie to make the Pro Bowl that season, which was the first of five Pro Bowls that he would reach. He finished his career with 1,031 catches for 14,731 yards and 81 touchdowns. He also scored six touchdowns on special teams (four punt returns, two kick returns).

OLB Terrell Suggs (first-time eligible, finalist); 17 seasons: 2003-18 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
Suggs was one of the most dominant players on one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL for more than a decade. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection racked up double-digit sacks in seven seasons and finished his career with 139 sacks. He was named as the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003, and he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

RB Fred Taylor (two-time finalist); 13 seasons: 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-10 New England Patriots
The former Florida Gator was the Jaguars’ first-round pick (No. 9 overall) in 1998, and he scored 17 touchdowns from scrimmage as a rookie to set a franchise record that still stands. He topped 1,000 rushing yards seven times in his career, including his best season in 2003 when he rushed for 1,572 yards. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry during his career and finished with 74 touchdowns (66 rushing, eight receiving).

K Adam Vinatieri (first-time eligible, finalist); 24 seasons: 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-19 Indianapolis Colts
Vinatieri earned four Super Bowl rings — three with the Patriots and one with the Colts. He is the career points leader for both franchises, with 1,158 career points for New England and 1,515 career points for Indianapolis. He also is the NFL’s all-time leader in points (2,673), field goals (599) and 100-point seasons (21). He was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team and the league’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

WR Reggie Wayne (six-time finalist); 14 seasons: 2001-14 Indianapolis Colts
Wayne stood out during both the regular season and the playoffs during his long career, which included 12 trips to the postseason. He topped 1,000 receiving yards eight times, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl six times in a seven-year period. He also won a Super Bowl with the Colts, and he caught 93 passes in the postseason, which ranked second all-time when he retired. He finished his career with 1,070 catches for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns.

S Darren Woodson (three-time finalist); 12 seasons: 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Woodson was a key defender on three Super Bowl-winning teams in Dallas (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). He was named to five Pro Bowls and he finished his career as the Cowboys’ all-time leader with 1,350 tackles. He had 26 interceptions including the postseason, and he returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns. He was named to the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor in 2015.

G/OT Marshal Yanda (first-time eligible, finalist); 13 seasons: 2007-19 Baltimore Ravens
Yanda earned eight Pro Bowl selections and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers. He started 166 of 177 career games. After an injury cut short his season in 2017, he returned to finish his career with back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns in 2018-19. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.

–Field Level Media

Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan during a recognition ceremony at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren among 9 coaching candidates for HOF

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Super Bowl-winning head coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan and George Seifert are among the nine semifinalists from the coach category nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Only one finalist from the group can be named a finalist to be considered by the full Hall of Fame Selection Committee for possible election in 2025.

The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee narrowed a list of 14 candidates to these semifinalists: Bill Arnsparger, Coughlin, Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy. All but Arnsparger, Knox and Seifert reached the semifinalist stage in 2023.

The same committee is scheduled for a virtual meeting on Nov. 19 to nominate one finalist to be considered for enshrinement.

Earlier this week, the Hall of Fame semifinalists from the contributor category, from which one finalist will be up for consideration with the next Hall of Fame class, were released: K.S. “Bud” Adams, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., Seymour Siwoff, Doug Williams and John Wooten.

A grand total of 20 finalists are presented for debate at the selection committee’s annual meeting in advance of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, including 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor. Between four and eight new members will be selected, according to the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws.

–Field Level Media

Bill Belichick smiles during questions at a press conference.

HOF reduces waiting period for coaches to 1 year

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced a series of changes to its annual selection process on Friday, including the reduction of the waiting period for coaches from five seasons to one.

That means six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots could receive his bronze bust and gold jacket in Canton, Ohio, as soon as 2026.

The selection process for the Class of 2025 is already underway, presumably indicating Belichick won’t be eligible for next summer’s induction, according to Pro Football Talk and other reports.

Under the new rules, one coach will be named a finalist for each Hall of Fame class. Belichick, 72, would seem to be a shoo-in for the 2026 slot, unless he takes another coaching job. Under the old rules, he would not have been eligible until the Class of 2029.

If Belichick does land another gig, longtime Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll could be the next in line. Carroll, also 72, led the Seahawks from 2010-23 and captured the franchise’s only title at Super Bowl XLVIII.

Other revisions to the bylaws announced Friday included the separation of the coach and contributor categories and creating two new screening committees (one for modern-era players and one for seniors) to help trim the lists of nominees down to 50 candidates each before they go to the official selection committee.

“The first pillar of the Mission statement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame states we will ‘Honor the Greatest of the Game.’ One important way to do that is through an annual review of the Selection Process and the people involved in it,” Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said.

“Forming two Screening Committees will bring added discussion of candidates, with input from more Hall of Famers,” he said. “And splitting the Coach and Contributor categories allows for a Finalist from each one. What’s most important is continuing to elect great classes of enshrinees, and these moves help ensure that desired outcome.”

–Field Level Media

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Bears, Texans to meet in Hall of Fame game

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The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will meet in the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

The Hall of Fame announced the participants on Tuesday, and the teams were natural selections. Three former members of the Bears — Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers — and Andre Johnson from the Texans are among the members of the organization’s 2024 class.

The game is set for Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio, with the Hall of Fame enshrinement following Aug. 3.

Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar and Patrick Willis also will be inducted during ceremonies.

Johnson will be the first player who played the majority of his career with the Texans to have a bust in Canton. With the three additions, 32 former Bears will be in the Hall of Fame.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Former Panther defensive end Julius Peppers awaits his induction into the Panthers Ring of Honor during the first quarter between the Carolina Panthers and the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates headline Hall of Fame finalists

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Defensive end Julius Peppers and tight end Antonio Gates — among the most prolific players at their respective positions — highlight the list of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern Era Class of 2024, released Wednesday.

Peppers and Gates are the only players to make the list in their first year of eligibility. Nine players who made the final list in 2023 are back on the list in ’24, while four other players are finalists for the first time though not in their first year of eligibility.

Peppers, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, finished his 17-year career with 159.5 sacks, fifth all time and the most by any player not yet in the Hall. Taken second overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 draft, Peppers was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 12 sacks to go with one interception and five forced fumbles in 12 games.

After 10 seasons with the Panthers, Peppers played four years with the Chicago Bears and then finished his career by playing three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

On the other end of the draft spectrum, Gates went undrafted after not playing football in college. Instead, he starred in basketball in his final two years at Kent State.

Combining his height (6-foot-4) with his rebounding skills, Gates first made a name for himself in the NFL as a jump-ball specialist in the end zone. He really broke through in his second season, scoring 13 touchdowns — then a single-season record for tight ends. He finished his career with 116 career TDs, seventh all time and the most ever by a tight end.

Gates made eight Pro Bowls and was a three-time first-team All-Pro in his 16 seasons. He finished with 955 receptions for 11,841 yards, spending his entire career with the Chargers (14 in San Diego and the final two in Los Angeles).

The four other players making the list for the first time are cornerback Eric Allen (in his 18th year of eligibility), safety Rodney Harrison (11th year), running back Fred Taylor (ninth) and offensive lineman Jahri Evans (second).

Punt/kick return specialist Devin Hester, who holds the single-season record for total kick-return touchdowns (six) and the career mark for punts returned for a score (14) is among those back on the list from 2023. Hester, who also made history with the first opening kickoff returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history (Super Bowl XLI), is a finalist for the third time.

Wide receivers Reggie Wayne (whose Indianapolis Colts beat Hester’s Chicago Bears in that Super Bowl) and Torry Holt (a member of the St. Louis Rams’ famed “Greatest Show on Turf”) are both finalists for the fifth time, the most of any of this year’s finalists.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will elect the Modern Era Class of 2024 the week leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, with the class announced on Feb. 8.

Up to five members can be elected to the modern class (a minimum of 80 percent of the votes is required for possible election). Finalists from the Seniors and Coach/Contributor categories may also be elected.

Modern Era Class of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

(Name, position, years, teams)

Eric Allen, cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

Jared Allen, defensive end — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

Willie Anderson, offensive tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Jahri Evans, guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

Dwight Freeney, defensive end/outside linebacker — 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions

Antonio Gates, tight end — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Rodney Harrison, safety — 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots

Devin Hester, punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver — 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

Torry Holt, wide receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

Andre Johnson, wide receiver — 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

Julius Peppers, defensive end — 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-16 Green Bay Packers

Fred Taylor, running back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

Reggie Wayne, wide receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

Patrick Willis, linebacker — 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

Darren Woodson, safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

–Field Level Media

Aug 4, 2023; Canton, OH, USA; A general overall view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football Hall of Fame names three senior finalists

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Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell are one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Seniors Committee selected the three former players as finalists for the Class of 2024 on Tuesday.

Each would need at least 80 percent approval when the full 50-person selection committee meets early next year in order to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

They were selected from a group of 12 candidates.

“Every one of the individual presentations for the 12 candidates by the members of the Seniors Committee participating Tuesday was outstanding, truly creating the possibility that each one could have reached the position of finalist,” Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a news release Wednesday.

“I applaud the committee for the thorough discussion and consideration for all 12. The depth of the Seniors pool came on full display once again.”

Gradishar, 71, played his entire 10-year career with the Denver Broncos (1974-83). The seven-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro linebacker was a first-round pick in 1974 and the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, anchoring Denver’s “Orange Crush” defense.

McMichael, 63, played defensive tackle for 15 seasons with the New England Patriots (1980), Chicago Bears (1981-93) and Green Bay Packers (1994). The two-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection won Super Bowl XX with the fabled 1985 Bears.

Powell, who died in 2015 at age 78, played in the CFL and entered the NFL as a defensive back before thriving as a receiver with the AFL’s New York Titans (1960-62) and Oakland Raiders (1963-66). He racked up 8,046 receiving yards and 81 TDs in 117 games.

The other seniors who were under consideration were Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor and Al Wistert.

–Field Level Media

Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett scrambles to get away from New York Jets lineman Jacob Martin on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 in Cleveland. Akr 9 18 Browns 17

Jets-Browns to play in Hall of Fame game

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The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns will play in the 2023 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 3.

The teams combine for three former players to be inducted into the HOF two days later – offensive tackle Joe Thomas of the Browns, and defensive lineman Joe Klecko and cornerback Darrelle Revis of the Jets.

It’ll be the first HOF game for the Browns since 1999 and their sixth overall.

The appearance will be the third for the Jets.

–Field Level Media

Aug 6, 2022; Canton, OH, USA; A general overall view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Ken Riley finalists for HOF

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Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley are the senior finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.

They were selected by the Seniors Committee from the 12 remaining names under consideration among players whose careers ended no later than the 1996 season. The list originally began with 127 players.

The Selection Committee will consider those three (along with 15 modern-era players and a coach/contributor) for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, when they meet in January.

“I’d like to thank the Seniors Committee for the extensive research each member put into preparing for the selection meeting. The Selectors talked about 12 individuals — several never discussed in a forum like this before — and every candidate’s resumé was presented in great detail,” HOF president Jim Porter said in a news release on Wednesday. “Expanding the conversation with additional Selectors participating in the process produced three worthy Finalists now on the doorstep of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Howley, 86, played linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys (1961-73) and Chicago Bears (1958-59). He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro who was named the MVP of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl V victory against the Baltimore Colts.

Klecko, 68, was a defensive lineman for the New York Jets (1977-87) and Indianapolis Colts (1988). He made four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams and recorded 78 sacks, including a league-leading 20.5 in 1981.

“You made my day; that’s for sure,” Klecko said in a congratulatory phone call with Porter. “I’ve had too many of them ‘no’ phone calls, and to get this one with a ‘yes’ is just absolutely exciting. … It’s a great time in the Klecko house.”

Riley, who died in 2020 at age 72, was a cornerback with the Cincinnati Bengals for 15 season (1969-83). He intercepted at least one pass every season and finished his career with 65 picks, tied with Charles Woodson for the fifth most in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

Aug 7, 2021; Canton, Ohio, USA; General view of signage at the Professional Football Hall of Fame before the HOF enshrinement ceremonies at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders, Jaguars to meet in Aug. 4 Hall of Fame game

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The Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars will meet in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 4 in Canton, Ohio.

The Thursday night preseason contest will kick off the NFL’s 103rd season.

It will be the fourth appearance for the Raiders and the second for the Jaguars in the annual event.

It also marks the debut of Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels, a Canton native, as well as the first game for Doug Pederson as the head coach for Jacksonville.

Former Raiders players Cliff Branch and Richard Seymour and Jaguars great Tony Boselli will be enshrined two days later as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. LeRoy Butler, Art McNally, Sam Mills, Dick Vermeil and Bryant Young will also be inducted.

–Field Level Media

Feb 1, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker announces the class of 2020 inductees during the NFL Honors awards presentation at Adrienne Arsht Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football HOF president David Baker retiring

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Pro Football Hall of Fame president and executive director David Baker announced his retirement on Saturday.

Baker, 68, is stepping down effective immediately to return to his home, family and business projects in California and Nevada.

“I have come to the conclusion that it is time for someone else to have the ‘best job in the world’ so I can still do a few more exciting things in my professional life while also returning home to our four children, 10 grandchildren and soon-to-be great grandson in Orange County, California, who I’ve missed so much during my tenure at ‘The Most Inspiring Place on Earth,’” Baker said in a news release.

Baker has turned over the day-to-day operations but will continue to represent the Hall of Fame at ceremonies at NFL stadiums across the country honoring the members of the Centennial Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised Baker, who took over in January 2014, for expanding “the Hall’s brand nationally and footprint locally in Canton, Ohio.”

“His mission to honor and support the heroes of the game will be one of his most lasting and important legacies,” Goodell said. “We are grateful for David’s many contributions and extend our utmost thanks and best wishes to Colleen and him.”

Jim Porter, 57, has been named as the new president. He previously served as the Hall of Fame’s chief marketing and communications officer.

–Field Level Media