The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class isn't welcoming another quarterback, and overall, the marquee names aren't as bright as recent years. But that doesn't mean the seven latest men being inducted and earning the NFL's greatest individual honor aren't packed with great talent.
Two pass rushers (Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers) were premier sack artists in their day. The only pure offensive star is wide receiver Andre Johnson. Then it's back to defense with linebackers Patrick Willis and Randy Gradishar and tackle Steve McMichael. Along with them, Devin Hester will break the seal on return men in Canton.
In case you were too young to watch those performers in their primes or just need a refresher on legends who retired a while ago, here's telling you more about each inductee.
MORE NFL HALL OF FAME 2024:
Johnson WR stats | Best Hester highlights | McMichael ALS fight | Peppers basketball career
Meet the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class
Dwight Freeney, EDGE, 2002-2017
- Teams: Colts, Chargers, Cardinals, Falcons Seahawks, Lions
- Pro Bowls: 7 | All-Pro nods: 4
- Super Bowl rings: 1
- Draft: First round, 2002, No. 11 overall from Syracuse
- Career sacks: 125.5 (18th all-time)
Freeney came in as a ferocious force and ended up the right defensive complement to the Peyton Manning-era teams. Powered often by his classic spin move, Freeney was a sack machine, productive in any scheme.
Randy Gradishar, LB, 1974-1983
- Team: Broncos
- Pro Bowls: 7 | All-Pro nods: 5
- Draft: First round, 1974, No. 14 overall from Ohio State
- Career tackles (unofficial): 2,049
Gradishar was a freight train wreaking havoc all over the field. His prolific tackling in a decade-long dominant career would put him well ahead of Ray Lewis in many statistical categories had there been official records kept then. He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.
Devin Hester, KR/PR, 2006-2016
- Teams: Bears, Falcons, Ravens, Seahawks
- Pro Bowls: 4 | All-Pro nods: 4
- Draft: Second round, 2006, No. 57 overall from Miami (Fla.)
- Career return TDs: 20 (14 punts, 5 kickoffs, 1 missed FGA (1st all-time)
"Devin Hester, you are ridiculous" will remain the signature call made about this dazzling special teams player. The track star from Miami found his footing as a threat to go the distance with every punt and kickoff touch in chilly Chicago. Hester is a worthy groundbreaker at his unique position, and it will be difficult for anyone to break his records given the league's new rules. He also returned the opening kickoff for a TD in Super Bowl 41.
Andre Johnson, WR, 2003-2016
- Teams: Texans, Colts, Titans
- Pro Bowls: 7 | All-Pro nods: 4
- Draft: First round, 2003, No. 3 overall from Miami (Fla.)
- Career numbers: 1,062 catches for 14,185 yards (both 11th all-time) and 70 TDs
Johnson was the first Texans superstar, living up to every expectation as a classic No. 1 outside receiver at 6-3, 229 pounds. He also was a refreshing throwback, a dominant route-running technician who let his play and production do most of the talking in an era of several divas at his position. The strong, silent type fit well with the Texans as he lifted many QBs along the way before ending his career with two AFC South rivals.
Steve McMichael, DT, 1980-1994
- Teams: Patriots, Bears, Packers
- Pro Bowls: 2 | All-Pro nods: 5
- Super Bowl rings: 1
- Draft: Third round, 1980, No. 74 overall from Texas
- Career sacks: 95
Before he embraced his inner wrestling "Mongo" as a WCW personality and coached winning indoor football in Chicago, McMichael was a bona fide Monster of the Midway, doing damage with Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, and other stars of the Bears' Super Bowl 20 defense in the '80s. McMichael fought a while to get into the Hall, and there's hope he will keep fighting his ALS for even longer.
Julius Peppers, EDGE, 2002-2014
- Teams: Panthers, Bears, Packers
- Pro Bowls: 9 | All-Pro nods: 6
- Draft: First round, 2002, No. 2 overall from North Carolina
- Career sacks: 159.5 (4th all-time)
Peppers used every bit of his basketball-playing frame (6-7, 295 pounds) to intimidate and overwhelm his blocking assignments with rare athleticism for his size. He could glide across the front to get anywhere needed to get to the quarterback. His natural pass-rushing instincts allowed him to last at a high level for a long time.
Patrick Willis, LB, 2007-2014
- Team: 49ers
- Pro Bowls: 7 | All-Pro nods: 6
- Draft: First round, 2007, No. 11 overall from Ole Miss
- Career tackles: 950
Willis retired before showing any signs of decline. He stepped on the field for the 49ers with a speedy, relentless presence and made plays sideline-to-sideline as the anchor of a top-flight linebacker corps. Despite his relatively short career, he was too consistently dominant to be denied Canton, much like offensive line counterpart, Joe Thomas.
