Five HBCU Alums who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
Posted By: S. Moore on August 02, 2023 The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony takes place this Saturday, August 5th. Florida A&M and Cincinnati Bengals great Ken Riley is the only HBCU alum who will be inducted in the ceremony this year. So, in honor of the auspicious occasion, let's spotlight five other HBCU alumni who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 5. Walter Payton  Rounding out the list is Jackson State football great Walter Payton. The two-time NFL MVP was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. The Chicago Bears standout racked up 16,726 total rush yards for his career and rushed for 1,000+ yards in 10 of his 13 seasons. The Super Bowl XX champion finished his college career rushing for 3,600 yards on 598 attempts and 63 touchdowns. 4. Bob Hayes  Bob Hayes Jr. poses with the bust of his late father during "Bullet Bob" Hayes' induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio. Alongside new inductee Ken Riley, Bob Hayes is the only other Florida A&M football alumnus enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The former Olympian was inducted in 2009. Known as “Bullet Bob,” the Super Bowl VI champion tallied 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. Also of note, Hayes is the only athlete in history to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic Gold medal. 3. Michael Strahan  Now known for his expansive media career, the former Texas Southern great can stake a claim as the best defensive end of all time. Strahan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and certainly deserved it following a standout career with the New York Giants, he tallied 854 tackles, 24 forced fumbles and four interceptions in 216 games played. He was also a key contributor in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history when the Giants beat Tom Brady and the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. 2. Shannon Sharpe  Before Sharpe was a superstar media personality, telling it like it is any topic, he was one of the most dynamic receiving tight ends in NFL history. The former Savannah State football great and Fox Sports “Undisputed” star was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2011. In his career, he racked up 815 career receptions for his career with 10,060 yards and 62 TDs. Sharpe also starred for three Super Bowl teams, two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. He finished his career at Savannah State with 192 receptions for 3,744 yards and 40 touchdowns before being drafted by Denver in the 1990s. 1. Jerry Rice  Considered by many to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, Mississippi Valley State football alumnus Jerry Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. The San Francisco 49ers legend and three-time Super Bowl champion is the NFL's all-time leader in career touchdowns (197), total yards (22,895) and receptions (1,549). During his time with Mississippi Valley State football, Rice had 301 receptions for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns. He was a key piece of the “Sattalite Express” offense alongside former Mississippi Valley quarterback Willie “The Satellite” Totten. SOURCE CLUTCH POINTS If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
Promote the Vote Fund: Ensuring Every Voice Is Heard in Michigan 28 April 2026
Promote the Vote Fund, a Ford grantee, is a coalition of partner organizations leading these efforts. The organization works across the ideological spectrum to support voting rights for Michiganders ...more
Hija Chang • 78 Views • May 3rd, 2026 |
 |
Temple to open medical campus in Atlantic CityBoth Temple and the Katz School of Medicine are guided by the belief that education and healthcare open doors and transform communities, and that is exactly what we have accomplished in Pennsylvania,” ...more
Hija Chang • 82 Views • May 3rd, 2026 |
 |
Apartheid’s legacy and the rise of xenophobia in South Africa todayPhoto: An image showing a South African township street with closed small shops owned by African migrants, police presence in the background, and community members walking past with tense expressions. ...more
Joel Savage • 317 Views • April 30th, 2026 |
 |
James Artissen, Big Gipp & DJ Burn One - Just Another DayAcclaimed Grammy-Nominated singer-songwriter James Artissen teams up with Southern hip-hop rapper Big Gipp, and respected producer DJ Burn One for their latest release, “Just Another Day.” The record ...more
Lenell Johnson • 202 Views • April 28th, 2026 |
 |
PROPEL Center Launches Future of Tech Innovation Challenge to Spotlight HBCU Talent & Shape the Next Generation of AI LeadersPROPEL Center, the global HBCU technology and innovation hub committed to strengthening the future Black talent pipeline, announced the launch of the Future of Tech Innovation Challenge, a national co ...more
Crystal Willis • 253 Views • April 27th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 108,198 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
