Capsules of Saturday’s inductees into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio:
Gene Hickerson
Guard
6-3, 248
1958-1973 Cleveland Browns. 15 seasons, 202 games.
leading rusher in seven of those 10 seasons. … Chosen for NFL’s all-decade team of the 1960s.
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Michael Irvin
Wide Receiver
6-2, 207
1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys. 12 seasons, 159 games.
Cowboys’ first-round pick (11th overall) in 1988 draft. … Became the first rookie wide receiver to start a season opener for Dallas in more than 20 years. Irvin’s 20.4-yards per catch average during his rookie year led the NFC. … Led league with 1,523 yards on 93 catches in 1991. … Had 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-1998 … In 1995, Irvin played his finest season: 111 catches for 1,603 yards. He also established an NFL record with 11 100-yard games and scored 10 touchdowns. … Cowboys made four straight appearances in NFC championship game (1992-1995) and won three Super Bowls. … Finished career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 TDs. … Selected to five straight Pro Bowls. … Picked for NFL’s all-decade team of the 1990s.
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Bruce Matthews
Guard, Tackle, Center
6-5, 289
1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans. 19 seasons, 296 games.
Selected by Houston in first round (ninth overall) of 1983 draft. … Regarded as one of game’s finest offensive linemen for nearly two decades. … Played in more games than any positional player in NFL history. … Started 292 of 296 games he played and 15 playoff games. … Played at every position on line. … Was also team’s long snapper for majority of career. … Most starts came at guard (99 on left side, 67 as right guard) and at center (87). … Also had 22 starts at right tackle, 17 at left tackle. … Was anchor on offensive line that contributed to team’s seven consecutive playoff seasons. … Voted to first of 14 consecutive Pro Bowl teams (nine at guard, five at center) following 1988 season, tying Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen for most ever. … Was voted All-Pro nine times. … Selected as guard on NFL’s all-decade team of the 1990s.
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Charlie Sanders
Tight End
6-4, 230
1968-1977 Detroit Lions. 10 seasons, 128 games.
ions in a season seven times and had more than 500 yards receiving in six seasons. … At time of retirement was Lions’ career receptions leader (336), his career yards receiving (4,817) ranked second. … Was Lions’ leader or co-leader in receptions six of his 10 seasons. … Chosen for NFL’s all-decade team of the 1970s.
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Thurman Thomas
Running Back
5-10, 198
1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins. 13 seasons, 182 games.
Selected in the second round of the 1988 draft. … A key part of Bills’ unprecedented run of four straight Super Bowl appearances. They lost all of them. … Set record by leading NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. … In 1991, gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was voted league’s MVP. … At time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time in career yards from scrimmage (16,532). … Rushed for 12,074 yards. … Only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s. … One of only three Hall of Fame running backs (Walter Payton and Marcus Allen) to have over 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. … Played in six AFC title games and four Super Bowls. … Set playoff records for career points (126), touchdowns (21) and consecutive games with a TD (9). … Selected to play in five consecutive Pro Bowls. … Chosen for NFL’s all-decade team of the 1990s.
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Roger Wehrli
Cornerback
6-0, 190
1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals. 14 seasons, 193 games.
Selected in first round (19th overall) of 1969 draft. … Starter as rookie, making three interceptions and leading team in punt returns. … In 1970 picked off career-high six passes (a feat he matched in 1975) to earn first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. … Led or tied for lead in interceptions for Cardinals four times. … Maintained enough speed and savvy to play demanding position for 14 seasons. … Registered interception in all but two seasons and amassed 40 career interceptions, two for touchdowns. … From 1974-76, picked off 12 passes as Cardinals put together string of three straight double-digit win seasons, including back-to-back NFC East titles (1974, 1975). … Intercepted three of Roger Staubach’s passes during key 31-17 win over division rival Dallas, Dec. 7, 1975. … In 1981, was moved to left cornerback. … Recovered franchise record-tying 19 fumbles during career. … Voted to NFL’s all-decade team of 1970s, was first-team All-Pro five times (1970, 1974-1977) and made Pro Bowl seven times.
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Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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