The Pro Football Hall of Fame reaffirmed its stance Tuesday that it does not posthumously present gold jackets and rings to deceased enshrinees.
The Hall said in a statement that, since opening in 1963, it "has honored each new member with a bronzed portrait bust that is placed in the Hall of Fame Gallery where it will remain in perpetuity."
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"The bronzed likenesses are often cited as what separates the Pro Football Hall of Fame from other similar institutions of honor," the statement continued. "It is pro football’s most revered symbol of individual excellence. And, it is with great pride and a sense of privilege that the Hall of Fame, since 1963, has honored every Hall of Fame enshrinee in this fashion."
The family of former Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler was upset it would not be presented with a ring and jacket for "The Snake." After Raiders owner Mark Davis and coach Jack Del Rio supported the Stabler family's request for a jacket and ring, the Hall reviewed its policy "and determined that a change to the long-standing policy was not warranted."
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Stabler died of colon cancer on July 8, 2015, and was nominated by the Hall's senior committee a month later. Stabler's daughter Kendra Stabler Moyes and his grandsons were in Canton last August and unveiled his bust. They also received the "Gold Hall of Fame Crest identical to what is otherwise featured only on the Hall of Fame Gold Jacket" framed in a shadowbox along with "a special memorial Medallion commemorating their family member’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement."
"While the iconic bronzed busts are created to memorialize every member of the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame Ring and Gold Jacket are items presented to living Hall of Fame members to be worn exclusively by them as evidence and pride of their having been elected to sport’s most elite fraternity," the Hall stated. "At no time in its 53-year history has the Hall of Fame presented either of these personal adornments posthumously or retroactively to a family member of a deceased Hall of Famer.
"The Hall of Fame believes, to the greatest extent possible, it should avoid creating or contributing to family disputes relative to ownership as well as the potential public sale or distribution of items intended for the exclusive use by a Hall of Famer."