Welcome to the Hall of Fame, gentleman.
Each year, the NFL class welcomes new faces to the Hall of Fame. In 2021, these names will now be forever enshrined into Canton, Ohio.
Former Raiders Tom Flores, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, wide receiver Drew Pearson and defensive back Charles Woodson all were given their ticket to the golden jacket on Saturday night. The four are just several names expected to be members of the final class which includes some of the pioneers of the NFL in the last 50 years.
Woodson was named the first member of the 2021 NFL Hall of Fame class on Saturday night during the NFL award show. The versatile defensive back played a monumental role in the development of defensive backs after being selected out of Michigan by the then-Oakland Raiders with the fourth overall pick in 1998.
The names add legacy to the NFL history books
Woodson’s career is filled with statical success as both a cornerback and a safety. The now 44-year-old played in 254 games over 18 seasons, making sudden impact as the defensive rookie of the year for the Raiders’ secondary.
His 65 career interceptions is tied for fifth in league history and includes at least one in each of his pro seasons. Woodson also led the NFL in interceptions twice, with nine in 2009 and seven in 2011.
He also forced 33 fumbles and was AP defensive player of the year in 2009 during his first season with the Packers.
Johnson might be the most underrated wide receiver to ever grace the gridiron. Much like Barry Sanders, his career was limited with the Detroit Lions, playing in only nine seasons. Those nine years were plenty to suffice his status as one of the all-time great pass-catchers.
Johnson made All-Pro three times and was a Pro Bowler six times. He finished with 731 receptions, 11,619 receiving yards and 83 receiving touchdowns.
Flores won Super Bowl rings as a player, assistant coach and head coach to go with an AFL championship as a player. His stint as the Raiders head coach during the 1983 season will go down as one of the greatest teams to ever play the game in a regular season.
Flores’ nine seasons as Raiders coach included a pair Super Bowl victories, an 8-3 postseason record and a playoff winning percentage of .727, second all-time behind legendary coach Vince Lombardi.