The seven former players who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame have all chosen their presenters for the enshrinement ceremony, and the group includes one player’s brother, another player’s son, three owners and two assistant coaches.
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Dick LeBeau and former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little have chosen family members, with LeBeau picking his brother Bob and Little asking his son Marc to present him.
Said Bob LeBeau of his brother, “He was a great athlete. He’s a great coach, and he’s the most loving brother a man could have. I’m so proud that he’s going to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Marc Little said of of his father, “It gives me extraordinary joy to present my dad to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’m humbled to be the representative who will speak on behalf of our family many of whom equally deserve to be presenters. Our family will all stand together and witness the crowning achievement of a spectacular career.”
Two players picked assistant coaches: John Randle picked his former defensive line coach John Teerlinck and Russ Grimm picked his old offensive line coach Joe Bugel.
We’ve previously noted that three players have chosen the men who owned the teams for which they played most of their careers: Rickey Jackson has chosen Saints owner Tom Benson, Jerry Rice has chosen former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo and Emmitt Smith has chosen Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
As part of a change to the enshrinement ceremony, the presenters will deliver their remarks in a video tribute taped in advance, and then take part in the unveiling of the enshrinee’s bronzed bust.