I thought I was excited for the Hall of Fame class in 2018. That was the year when Terrell Owens, Brian Dawkins, Randy Moss, Brian Urlacher, and Ray Lewis all received their yellow jackets and bronze busts. The following class in 2019 wasn’t too bad either with Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Champ Bailey, Ed Reed, and Tony Gonzalez to name a few. The class of 2021 is also a memorable one. Calvin Johnson got in on the first-ballot and John Lynch finally got the call he was in. Two of the guys I’m about to discuss were no-brainers for the hall. That’s Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson.
It all started in 1997 at the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City for these future legends. Peyton was quarterbacking the Tennessee Volunteers and Charles was anchoring one of the best defenses in the country that year in Ann Arbor for the Michigan Wolverines. Charles won the Heisman that year and to this day, he’s the only defensive player to be awarded the Heisman. In 1998, both Peyton and Charles declared themselves eligible for the NFL Draft. Peyton was considered the best player in the draft that year. He would end up being selected with the first overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Three picks later, Charles was selected by the-then Oakland Raiders at number four. In Peyton’s rookie year, he threw 26 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions which was once a record for the most thrown by a quarterback. For Charles, he had an immediate impact and was awarded the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998. As the years went on, Peyton became the face of the league and had the Colts as one of the best teams in football. Charles took his talents to Green Bay in 2006 and became the heart and soul of the Packers. Peyton finished his career in Denver and put together the best season I’ve ever seen by a quarterback in 2013. Charles finished his career as a Raider, the only way he would’ve wanted it. Both retired after the 2015 season.
These two will forever be connected to each other. They were Heisman candidates, draft classmates, played in the league together around the same time, became legends in the sport, dominated at their positions, and also retired together. It’s only appropriate that they’ll be enshrined together in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August. I remember on Super Bowl Sunday, Peyton joked around and said this will be the third time he and Charles sit together during a ceremony. He’s not wrong. I’m just happy I was able to witness these two become who they are.
