Opening of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The story of the opening of the Pro Football Hall of Fame begins with a simple sentence: The Pro Football Hall of Fame, established in 1963, is a museum dedicated to celebrating and honoring the history of professional American football, primarily the National Football League (NFL).

• The Pro Football Hall of Fame was officially opened on September 7, 1963, in Canton, Ohio.
• Canton was chosen because the American Professional Football Association, which later became the NFL, was founded there in 1920.
• The initial class of inductees included 17 players, coaches, and contributors who played an essential role in shaping professional football.
• The Pro Football Hall of Fame has become an essential part of the football world, attracting fans from across the country and around the globe.
• The annual induction ceremony has evolved into a major event, drawing significant media attention and bringing football enthusiasts together to celebrate the game’s history and its most prominent figures.
• The Hall of Fame Game, an annual preseason NFL game held in Canton, serves as the unofficial kickoff to the NFL season, further elevating the significance of the Hall of Fame in football culture.
• The United States is the primary country involved, as the Pro Football Hall of Fame focuses on the history of American professional football, with the NFL being the most prominent league.
• Some of the most notable inductees include legendary players like Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, and Vince Lombardi, who have significantly contributed to the sport both on and off the field.
• The Hall of Fame’s selection committee, consisting of sports journalists and representatives from each NFL team, is crucial in determining the inductees each year.

The Initial Class of Hall of Fame Inductees:

1. Sammy Baugh – Quarterback
2. Bert Bell – NFL Commissioner and team owner
3. Joseph Carr – NFL President
4. Dutch Clark – Quarterback
5. Red Grange – Halfback
6. George Halas – Player, coach, and team owner
7. Mel Hein – Center
8. Pete Henry – Tackle
9. Cal Hubbard – Tackle
10. Don Hutson – End
11. Earl “Curly” Lambeau – Player, coach, and team founder
12. Tim Mara – Team owner
13. George Preston Marshall – Team owner
14. John “Blood” McNally – Halfback
15. Bronko Nagurski – Fullback
16. Ernie Nevers – Fullback
17. Jim Thorpe – Halfback