The 2020 Modern Era class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame was revealed yesterday, and includes some very deserving names.
Running back Edgerrin James, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, safety Steve Atwater, and safety Troy Polamalu were elected on Saturday. Polamalu made it in his first year on the ballot.
James, who went to school at Miami, will be best remembered for his time with the Indianapolis Colts, where he rushed for over 1,500 yards in four separate seasons. He still holds the team’s franchise records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. His totals would have been even higher if not for a torn ACL he suffered during the 2001 season. James never won a Super Bowl, departing Indianapolis just one year before they ultimately went on to win Super Bowl XLI.
Bruce was one of the best wide receivers of his era, and is remembered for playing a leading role in the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was a Super Bowl winner with the team in the 1999 season. Bruce leads the Rams in virtually every franchise receiving category, having caught 91 total touchdowns and 15,424 yards over his career, which included two years with the San Francisco 49ers prior to his retirement. News of Bruce’s induction will likely resonate in St. Louis, where he played 13 seasons.
Hutchinson was a five-time All-Pro guard with both the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings. Early in his career, he was an iron man, playing 59 straight games for the Vikings. Hutchinson blocked for two of the great running backs of his era in Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson, and their success while he was a part of their offensive line was no coincidence.
Atwater has had a very long wait for Hall of Fame recognition, having been an unsuccessful finalist in both 2012 and 2016. He spent all but one season of his career with the Denver Broncos, where he gained a reputation as an elite and hard-hitting free safety. He made seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1990 through 1996. Atwater’s most famous performance came in Denver’s Super Bowl XXXII victory, where he made six tackles, including one sack and a forced fumble, and popped up with multiple big hits and key plays.
Polamalu is the only one of the five inductees to be elected his first time on the ballot. An eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time First Team All-Pro, he was the heart of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense for 12 seasons. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner and also won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award for his exploits during the 2010 season. He ended his career with 32 total interceptions and 783 tackles. The Steelers were the only organization he ever played for, though there have been rumors of some bad blood due to how his retirement went down. He will be remembered for his quiet off-field demeanor — and his hair — as well as for his on-field production.
The five new inductees will join 15 members of the Centennial Slate in the 2020 class, including some former coaches who were surprised with the news in a pretty cool way.
