His “Keep pounding” remains the Panthers’ tag line.īranch, who died just over three years at age 71 of natural causes, was one of the best deep threats of his era with some of his biggest performances coming on the game’s biggest stages, helping the Raiders win three Super Bowls.īranch made the first of his three straight All-Pro teams in his first season as a starter in 1974 and scored 67 touchdowns through the air. He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer before the 2003 season but kept coaching during his treatment and made what is known as his “Keep pounding” speech on the eve of the club’s Super Bowl matchup with New England at the end of that season. Mills became an assistant coach with the Panthers after his retirement.
“He was told he wasn’t good enough to play college football or big enough to play professional football and at the age of 27, he wasn’t young enough to play in the NFL and yet here we are today celebrating,” said Melanie Mills, Sam’s widow. Jim Mora, who coached the Stars, brought him to New Orleans in 1986 and Mills never looked back. He was cut by the Cleveland Browns and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and began his professional career with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars. Mills played Division III college football and was not drafted. An inspirational figure, Mills overcame tremendous odds to even reach the NFL. Mills, the 5-foot-9 linebacker nicknamed “Field Mouse” during his 12-year career with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, and Branch were inducted posthumously. He fell just short of becoming the first player in league history to finish his career with 40 interceptions and 20 sacks. His versatility as a safety set the standard for a new wave at the position and earned him a spot on the league’s All-Decade team of the 1990s.īutler originated the “Lambeau Leap” and had a key sack in Green Bay’s Super Bowl victory over New England. “My mom, growing up in poverty, she made us think rich every day because it’s not about what you have on or what you have, it’s how you act.”īutler helped restore Green Bay’s glory days during a 12-year career. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs coach seemed to thank everyone who helped him reach the stage.īutler drew cheers from Jaguars fans in attendance to see Boselli’s induction when he mentioned growing up in Jacksonville. Vermeil gave the longest speech, blowing past the 8-minute limit by 15.
Young, who excelled at defensive tackle in an era filled with talented players at the position, had 89 1/2 sacks and earned four Pro Bowl selections in a 14-year career spent entirely with the San Francisco 49ers. “We assured Colby we would keep his memory alive and we would continue speaking his name,” Young said. Young delivered the most emotional speech when he broke down honoring his son, Colby, who died of pediatric cancer at age 15 in 2016. Linebacker Sam Mills, defensive back LeRoy Butler, defensive linemen Bryant Young and Richard Seymour, wide receiver Cliff Branch, coach Dick Vermeil and longtime head of officiating Art McNally joined Boselli in a class of guys who waited several years – some decades – to get the call.