My Experience of the NFL Hall of Fame

My Experience of the NFL Hall of Fame

Today, we are going to take a different route. Instead of doing a report of a recent signing or an analysis of the top players in the NFL, we are going to reflect on a real-life experience. On May 19, 2019, my family and I took a trip to Canton, OH, and toured the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Getting into the Hall of Fame is the biggest honor an NFL player can receive, and this attraction makes it feel that much greater of an achievement. Let’s look at my trip and what I learned from it and what I enjoyed.

The Old Times

To lead off, the exhibit educates you on the old days of the NFL, when the sport first originated. Legends with the names of Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, and Vince Lombardi highlighted this part of the exhibit. Also, did you know back then touchdowns were only four points? That was one of the more interesting facts of this section, along with models of the classic helmets, pads, and footballs that they used. While the old-timer’s section is tough for me to relate to, it educated me on how football came about in the most authentic and original way possible.

Dynasties

Another section that really intrigued me was the section that was dedicated to the dynasties. The ones that were enshrined in the museum were the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and the Dallas Cowboys (Don’t worry, the Patriots will be in here soon). This section interested me a lot because it allowed you to focus in on the greatness of the NFL. All-time players played on these teams, and the Hall of Fame allowed me to have direct insight on all the records they broke and the highlights they created. Also, since the Cleveland Browns are my favorite team, it allowed me to educate myself on the history of the Browns, and how they have evolved over the years.

Pro Football Today

The section that I would consider my favorite is “Pro Football Today”. This section highlights the top players in today’s game and the future of the NFL. I feel that this is my favorite section because it is the section I can relate to the most. This section included players such as Patrick Mahomes, Khalil Mack, and Ezekiel Elliott. This exhibit showcases records that were broken in the recent past and helps you appreciate the game that is being played today. Some Browns players included in this are Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry, who all made history in some sort of way in the past few seasons. This section caught my eye the most and engaged most of my attention during my tour.

Enshrinement

Last, but certainly not least, is the enshrinement. The enshrinement honors all the NFL players that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Every player has a look-a-like head engraved and displayed on the wall around the enshrinement. This symbolizes the outstanding careers that these men have had and can be described as a trophy with a lot more meaning. There were screens where you can research players and learn about anyone who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Some players I searched were Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Terrell Davis, and Brian Dawkins. This room was filled with greatness and will continue to be filled as the years go by.

To conclude, if you are a football fan, I highly suggest you make time to come visit. It is an attraction that will make you open your eyes to so many different visions to the game of football.

2019 Inductees

Tony Gonzalez, TE

Ed Reed, S

Champ Bailey, CB

Ty Law, CB

Kevin Mawae, C

Pat Bowlen, Owner

Gil Brandt, Executive

Johnny Robinson, S

-By: Richie Dordas