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| Roger Craig and longtime friend and football teammate Jimmy Williams pose for a picture with Bust that will enter the Hall of Fame forever. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
Roger Craig announces some health news during video speech
CANTON, Ohio – The time is now for the 2026 HOF Enshrinees to be officially introduced to the Hall of Fame, as this is the day they will be immortalized in the last place of the phase of their enshrinement.
Cleveland’s jazz and funk sax player Michael Austin Bey opened up with his rendition of the national anthem on his saxophone.
The first to take the podium after a memorable and forgettable night at the Gold Jacket Dinner would be the Arizona Cardinal himself, Larry Fitzgerald, to speak to a crowd yelling “Larry”, “Larry”, “Larry”.
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| Luke Kuechly and his father Tom Kuechly. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
He complimented Randy Moss and Cris Carter, whom he called “Uncle Cris,” about how much he meant to him during his early football journey.
He ended his speech by saying, “Greatness is not about excellence but the people who helped you get there,” he said.
The 24-year veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri Jr., now a Hall of Famer, took the podium, being presented by Colts current owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the daughter of late owner Jim Irsay, who passed away in May 2025.
Vinatieri proudly thanked his family, making special mention of his dad, who coached him, and stated, “How proud he was of his coach.”
His jokes kept the crowd laughing.
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| Adam Vinatieri is flanked by his children during the post-speech of his enshrinement. |
He ended his speech, “Thank you, I hope I honored you as much as you honored me,” he said before exiting the stage.
The local Ohio HOF’er Luke Kuechly will take the podium next as his current alma mater, Cincinnati St. X, current players make their way to salute a legend.
He joined the stage to pose for his bust with his presenter and father; he played nine years in the NFL at linebacker.
His speech was short and sweet, almost too short for a well-liked Hall of Famer. He did say a quote he got from Jerry Richardson, the founder and original owner of the Carolina Panthers. “The most valuable member of the team is the fan,” he stated.
The most electrifying Hall of Famer from the Gold Jacket Dinner was Roger Craig, who will be up next to tell his journey of climbing the hill to the Hall of Fame.
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| Larry Fitzgerald having a conversation with Payton Manning. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
His presenter was Jimmy Williams, his lifelong childhood friend and football teammate for six decades. Craig had one of the most interesting and heartfelt speeches.
Although he was telling his story a little differently, as he sent it via video stream and stated he was diagnosed with vascular dementia, which is a decline in thinking skills, he said it came from the concussions and other head injuries he suffered during his playing time.
He had one of the most resonating quotes before the video feed ended: “I am still Roger Craig.”
The last to come to the stage was the man of the hour and former New Orleans Saint Drew Brees and his presenter, ex-coach Sean Payton.
His first words were, “The Who Dat Nation is real, fellas.”
Payton stated that his football IQ was second to none, as he looked at the quarterback position as an art form. He went to Purdue University, where he excelled as a quarterback and chose it for its academics and the chance to play in the Big Ten Conference.
“Right team, right coach, right system,” -- Drew Brees.
He praised Tom Benson (d. 2018) and his widow, Gayle Benson, fittingly, as he is in the stadium named before his death and known as Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
In his final remarks, he thanked the fans, “You make up the golden thread of this jacket.”
“God bless you and Who Dat,” he yelled as he walked off into immortality.
The enshrinees will be here for the final event on Sunday, Aug. 9, and that is the Unscripted and Tailgate right back at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
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