The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was announced Thursday night in Las Vegas at the NFL Honors program in advance of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday. Two players who spent time in Green Bay with the Packers were elected, headlined by Julius Peppers, a first ballot hall of famer. Peppers was the first round pick of the Carolina Panthers out of North Carolina University where he played for a dozen seasons. After a couple of years in Chicago, Peppers signed with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in 2014. He made an immediate impact on the Green Bay defense, scoring two defensive touchdowns on interceptions. He racked up 25 sacks with the Packers in helping Green Bay reach the NFC Championship game twice in his three years. Peppers ranks 4th on the NFL’s All Time sack list with 1591/2. Also elected to Hall from among the senior finalists was Steve McMichael. The defensive tackle was a key piece of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl title team in 1985 but he wrapped up his career in 1994 in his one and only season with the Packers. Since retiring, McMichael has been struck with ALS and has been bed-ridden. His former Chicago teammate Richard Dent, already in the Hall, delivered the news to McMichael and his family at his bed side. Also heading to Canton this summer are Devin Hester, the record breaking kick returner from the Bears, edge rushing star Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis, Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson and another senior choice, former Denver Bronco linebacker Randy Gradishar.
As for the NFL honors, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career. The Offensive Player of the Year was Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns was the Defensive Player of the Year. The Houston Texans swept the top rookie honors, quarterback C.J. Stroud was the Offensive Rookie of the Year while linebacker Will Anderson Jr. won the Defensive Rookie Award. The Coach of the Year is Kevin Stefanski of the Browns, thanks to having the Comeback Player of the Year, quarterback Joe Flacco who took over because of injuries and led Cleveland into playoffs. The Walter Payton Man of the Year award was given to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
The NFL Fan of the Year, presented by Captain Morgan, is a Cheesehead. Tom Grossi was named Fan of the Year, beating out 31 other finalists representing each team in the league. A New York native, Grossi’s father was a Dallas Cowboys fan but Tom aligned himself with the Packers when he was 6 and hasn’t missed watching a Green Bay game since. He’s also developed his own You Tube channel for Packer fans that has also helped raise over $750.000.0o dollars since 2021.
The Packers also announced details for the team’s annual Tailgate Tour. It will run April 9-13 with President and CEO Mark Murphy leading the group. Current players Elgton Jenkins, Kenny Clark and Rasheed Walker will be joined by former players Bryan Bulaga, Mike Daniels and Alex Green. The bus trip will visit Kenosha, Beloit, Platteville and Sun Prairie visiting hospitals, schools and other stops to visit with fans and raise money for charities in each city.
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