Terrell Owens made headlines for months by refusing to attend the Hall of Fame enshrinement this year, but several of the most recognizable icons in football history may end up going the same route in 2019 and beyond.
At least, that’s what several members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are threatening to do. ESPN’s Arash Markazi obtained a copy of a letter that was sent to the NFL, the Players Association and the Hall of Fame. The letter was written by former running back Eric Dickerson, the chairman of the newly created Hall of Fame Board, and signed by numerous board members and Hall of Famers including Jerry Rice, Joe Namath, Jim Brown, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner. In it, the ex-players said they do not plan to attend the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony unless they are guaranteed health insurance and an annual salary derived from a share of league revenue.
“We, the undersigned Pro Football Hall of Famers, were integral to the creation of the modern NFL, which in 2017 generated $14 billion in revenue,” the letter reads. “But when the league enshrined us as the greatest ever to play America’s most popular sport, they gave us a gold jacket, a bust and a ring — and that was it.”
The letter goes on to state that players “sacrificed our bodies” to help build the NFL, but many Hall of Famers are struggling physically and financially. It also estimates that health insurance for all current Hall of Famers would cost around $4 million, which is less than a 30-second Super Bowl ad and 3 cents for every $100 the NFL generates in revenue.
“To build this game, we sacrificed our bodies. In many cases, and despite the fact that we were led to believe otherwise, we sacrificed our minds. We believe we deserve more. We write to demand two things: Health insurance and annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue.”
The letter mentions how Goodell makes $40 million a year in salary. It then points to the $1 billion Hall of Fame Village that is being constructed in Canton while some Hall of Famers “can’t walk and many can’t sleep at night.”
“More than a few of us don’t even know who or where we are,” the letter reads. “Our long careers left us especially vulnerable to the dangers of this violent sport, especially those intentionally hidden from us. Commissioner Goodell, there are better uses for that money.”
With the NFL set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2020, the Hall of Famers who have come together are seeking to stop the league from using former players for marketing without compensating them fairly. Owens had a much different reason for boycotting the Hall of Fame ceremony, but the league and the organization obviously have some things to discuss with some of the game’s greatest.
