2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement: Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen, Antonio Gates express gratitude to those who lifted them

Yahoo

13 hours ago

The Pro Football Hall of Fame added four members on Saturday, with Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Gates and Eric Allen enshrined as the class of 2025 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The four new inductees received their signature gold jackets during a dinner on Friday night. Prior to the quartet giving acceptance speeches on stage, the ceremony honored host Chris Berman, who emceed the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony for the 25th time. Pittsburgh Steelers legend Lynn Swann, class of 2001, presented Berman with a silver anniversary football.
Coach Marv Levy, also part of the 2001 class, was recognized for his 100th birthday, which is on Sunday (Aug. 3). Thurman Thomas, class of 2007, who played for Levy from 1998-97 with the Buffalo Bills, called him "the best coach I ever had."
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Jared Allen was the first of the inductees to take the stage. He was presented by his father, Ron Allen. Wearing a cowboy hat, Allen joked that he felt bad about giving bad advice — such as eating three jalapeno peppers before a game — to parents who asked for tips to a successful football career, often when he was having dinner or with family members.
Finally enshrined in his fifth year of eligibility, Allen thanked his wife for elevating him and their two daughters, who he called "his legacy."
From Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab:
"[Allen] was entertaining as a player, with 136 career sacks during stints with the Vikings, Chiefs, Bears and Panthers, and also unapologetically himself. His famous calf-roping celebration after sacks was a part of who he was, and maybe the most memorable part of a great career."
Up next was Sterling Sharpe. Appropriately, he was presented by his brother Shannon Sharpe, class of 2011. The two now comprise the first brother tandem to be inducted into Canton.
Sharpe thanked his mother for giving him the name "Sterling," which helped him stand out as a young black man in rural south Georgia and inspired him. He also thanked the women in his life for helping him get to where he is, including his two sisters.
Schwab on Sharpe:
"Sharpe won the NFL's receiving triple crown in 1992, leading the NFL with 108 catches, 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 108 receptions set an NFL single-season record. He broke that record the following season with 112 catches. In his final season, he caught a league-best 18 touchdowns."
Sharpe was followed by Eric Allen, who was presented by his oldest son, Austin. Allen thanked his mother and grandmother for teaching him kindness and instilling a work ethic, in addition to his three sons.
Allen played three seasons for the New Orleans Saints and four with the Oakland Raiders, but singled out the Philadelphia Eagles and owner Jeffrey Lurie. Allen was drafted by the Eagles and played seven seasons with the team.
Schwab on Allen:
"Allen was one of the best cover corners of his era. He wasn't the biggest player, at 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, but he was quick and had tremendous anticipation. When quarterbacks threw his way, he often ended up with his hands on the ball. Allen had 54 interceptions and returned eight of them for touchdowns. He led the NFL in pick 6s in 1993 and again in 2000."
The ceremony's final speaker was Antonio Gates, who was presented by Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos. With 116 touchdown catches, Gates is the NFL's all-time leader in that category for tight ends. He made sure to thank quarterbacks Doug Flutie, Drew Brees and notably Philip Rivers, who threw 89 of those TD passes.
Schwab on Gates:
"Gates' path to the Hall of Fame is literally unlike any other. The longtime Chargers tight end is the first one to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player without appearing in a college football game, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. There's at least a little more history for undrafted players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before Gates, 22 players went from undrafted to a bust in Canton."
The Pro Football Hall of Fame now has 382 members, including the class of 2025.
All of them were arguably overdue to be honored for their careers and enshrined in Canton. Yet that likely won't be remembered amid the fond memories of being recognized for their achievements and getting the opportunity to publicly acknowledged those who helped lift them to football immortality.