A complete wrap-up of coverage from the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
CANTON — A year after a double-enshrinement led to a Hall of Fame weekend like no other, the community got back to celebrating the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement in its usual fashion.
The Class of 2022 claimed the spotlight all to itself and provided a memorable weekend — for the Hall of Famers, their families, their fans and Greater Canton.
As enshrinement weekend prepares to wrap up Sunday with the Hall of Fame Roundtable, here's a look back at the past couple of days.
LeRoy Butler enters 'rare company'
The creator of the Lambeau Leap, LeRoy Butler, kicked things off Saturday. He reflected on his journey from Jacksonville, Florida to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his good fortune to join the Packers.
Sam Mills' determined journey
Sam Mills entered pro football undrafted and survived being cut in the NFL and CFL. The USFL, though, gave him a chance to flourish and eventually become an NFL star, first in New Orleans and then in Carolina. Cancer took him away too soon (he died in 2005, at age 45), but his wife Melanie proudly shared his story at the Enshrinement.
Richard Seymour humble as ever
Great individual talent helped make Richard Seymour a star along the defensive line and a three-time Super Bowl champion. His humility, though, made him a great teammate and was revealed Saturday in his gratitude for this honor.
Art McNally becomes first Hall of Fame referee
Art McNally spent much of his life officiating or improving officiating in the NFL. He did it always with an integrity his family and friends wanted to share with the audience Saturday since the 97-year-old was unable to be in Canton in person.
Tony Boselli pays tribute to dad, family
In being the first draft pick by the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, big things were expected of Tony Boselli from the start of his NFL career. He more than delivered. And Saturday, he was quick to credit family, including his late father, for his success.
Bryant Young keeps late son's memory alive
Rising to an elite level in college at Notre Dame and in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Bryant Young achieved about all a defensive lineman could achieve in a football life. But it's the life of his late son, Colby, who Young wanted to make sure the audience remembers long after the enshrinement.
Cliff Branch's legacy is remembered
As a career Raider, Cliff Branch destroyed defenses with his speed as a wide receiver and earned friends and fans with his personality. He died a couple years shy of being able to experience his enshrinement, but his sister Elaine Anderson shared some of his words and gratitude for his success.
Dick Vermeil spreads around the thanks
At 85, Dick Vermeil knows he has plenty of people to thank in his life. And that's especially true in football, where he was the master of rebuilding losing NFL franchises (he was 3-for-3 doing it). So while he's well known for being a driven coach who didn't hide his emotions (or his tears), Vermeil wrapped up Saturday by asking many who helped him along the way to stand up and be recognized.
Grand Parade kicks off Enshrinement Saturday
Before they took the stage inside Benson Stadium, the Class of 2022 joined other returning Hall of Famers in the festival's annual parade early Saturday morning.
Class of 2022 receive their Hall of Fame Gold Jackets
As ultimate prizes in the world of sports go, the Gold Jacket for a Pro Football Hall of Famer ranks as high as any. This year's class got theirs among a host of NFL legends Friday night.
Another way to create, share Hall of Fame memories
In recent years, one of the highlights of Enshrinement Weekend has been the Friday morning group photo each year. All returning Hall of Famers join the new class for the ultimate NFL team picture. This year, a new twist was added. The large group of Hall of Famers walked six blocks from the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel to Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton for the photo, as some of the community came out to cheer them on. And for members of the Class of 2022, it was yet another reminder of what a special fraternity they have joined.
Josh McDaniels-coached Raiders win Hall of Fame Game in his return to Canton
Celebrating the NFL's rich history is the purpose of the Hall of Fame, and the Enshrinement each year puts that history on display. But the weekend also includes one key element of the league's present — the NFL's preseason kicks off with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-11 on Thursday night to open the 2022 preseason. But this year's game had even more significance locally beyond that. Stark County High School Football Hall of Famer Josh McDaniels, who starred at nearby McKinley High School, made his sideline debut as head coach of the Raiders. And one of the rookies on his team, Thayer Munford of Massillon and Ohio State, returned home to Ohio for his first game action. Meanwhile, for the opponent, the Jaguars, perhaps one of the NFL's next great stars — Travon Walker — also made his debut.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Looking back on 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
