Had the COVID-19 pandemic not ravaged the 2020 sports calendar, 12 of the 20 former NFL greats who are still living and were selected as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 would be getting fitted for the gold jackets they'd wear at the Aug. 8 enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
They instead will have to wait almost exactly one year.
MORE: Why 2020 preseason games were canceled
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in June announced it had rescheduled all events associated with its 2020 enshrinement festival. That included the 2020 Hall of Fame game that was scheduled to be played between the Steelers and Cowboys on Aug. 6.
So modern-era Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Steve Atwater, Isaac Bruce, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James and Troy Polamalu will have to wait one more year before they can stand in front of hundreds of onlookers in that glorious summer heat and give their long-awaited acceptance speeches.
Below are all the details of the postponement of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
When is the NFL Hall of Fame ceremony for 2020?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame knew early in the summer that its enshrinement festival for the Class of 2020 could not possibly play out on schedule amid the pandemic. So the solution was relatively simple.
The 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement events were postponed by exactly a year, which will pair them with those for the 2021 class for something of a Hall of Fame doubleheader in August of next year. The Hall has even branded it as "Twice the Fun in '21."
Events tied to Enshrinement Week Powered by @johnsoncontrols now will take place Aug. 5-9, 2021. Watch to learn more. pic.twitter.com/tnZhW2cf5L
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) June 25, 2020
"The health and safety of our Hall of Famers, fans and volunteers who make enshrinement week so special remains our top priority," president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame David Baker said in June. “The Hall will honor the Centennial Class of 2020 next August, along with what promises to be an equally spectacular Class of 2021, as part of a multi-day celebration of football with an atmosphere that will deliver for fans 'Twice the Fun in ’21.'
Added Denny Saunier, the president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce: "We have been a proud partner with the Hall for more than 50 years in producing wonderful events that showcase Canton and surrounding areas. Although we’re all disappointed we won’t be enjoying those festivities this summer, we look forward to welcoming the huge numbers of visitors and returning Hall of Famers who will make the 2021 enshrinement week special.”
The NFL, the Cowboys and the Steelers also agreed to postpone (rather than cancel) the 2020 Hall of Fame Game, which will be played Aug. 5, 2021. Fans who had tickets to the game were given the option to retain their seats for the same price or to apply for a refund.
NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees
Because 2020 marked the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Centennial Class, an extra 15 "Centennial Slate" inductees were added to the typical modern-era inductees. The slate includes 10 seniors (players who last played more than 25 years ago), three contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two coaches as elected by a special blue-ribbon panel in January.
The five modern-era Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees were elected in February by the Hall’s 48-person selection committee. Polamalu is the only first-ballot Hall of Famer in the 2020 class.
Below are all of the inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
Modern-era members:
- Steve Atwater
- Isaac Bruce
- Steve Hutchinson
- Edgerrin James
- Troy Polamalu
Centennial slate:
- Bill Cowher
- Jimmy Johnson
- Steve Sabol
- Paul Tagliabue
- George Young
- Harold Charmichael
- Jim Covert
- Bobby Dillon
- Cliff Harris
- Winston Hill
- Alex Karras
- Donnie Shell
- Duke Slater
- Mac Speedie
- Ed Sprinkle