The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted eight new members Saturday in an enshrinement ceremony held inside the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The members of the 2022 class include players Tony Boselli, Cliff Branch, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour and Bryant Young as well as coach Dick Vermeil and Art McNally, the first official to be inducted.
In a particularly moving moment of the ceremony, Young dedicated part of his speech to his son Colby who died of cancer in 2016 at the age of 15.
Young was a first-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1994 and served as a defensive tackle on the team until 2007. He is still widely considered to be among the best defensive tackles in NFL history.
Young said, “Colby loved life, he had an infectious smile and many interests including football. He was a happy kid. Colby, you live on in our hearts. We will always speak your name.”
Seymour, a long-time member of the New England Patriots and now a professional poker player, made fun of Tom Brady during his speech.
He joked, “We had a young quarterback but we made it work.” Seymour was drafted by the head coach Bill Belichick of the Patriots in 2001. Brady, now 45, was drafted by the team in 2000.
Seymour ended up winning three Super Bowl rings with Brady and the Patriots until he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Like Young, he is considered one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history.
Tony Boselli is the first member of Florida’s Jacksonville Jaguars to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 16 years after he became eligible for the honor.
Former San Francisco 49er Bryant Young’s emotional tribute to his son highlights his Hall of Fame induction.
