Thirty-three years after he retired as the most prolific receiver in Dallas Cowboys history, Drew Pearson has finally made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pearson, 70, was announced Saturday night as a member of the Class of 2021 with quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive back Charles Woodson, receiver Calvin Johnson, safety John Lynch, guard Alan Faneca, contributor Bill Nunn and coach Tom Flores.
Pearson, nominated by the Hall of Fame’s senior committee, signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from Tulsa in 1973. He retired after an 11-year career as the Cowboys’ all-time leading receiver who collaborated with quarterback Roger Staubach on some of the biggest plays in NFL history.
Of all the clutch catches Pearson made, none was bigger than the “Hail Mary” to win a 1975 playoff game at Minnesota. Pearson caught Staubach’s 50-yard touchdown pass in the last 30 seconds to secure the victory.
Pearson, a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team, helped the Cowboys reach three Super Bowls, including a victory over Denver in Super Bowl XII.
“I’m stunned,” Pearson said when informed by Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker, accompanied by Staubach and owner Jerry Jones. “I’ve wanted this for a long time. I promise I’ll live up to what the Hall of Fame is all about. You’ve given me a chance at immortality. It’s amazing.”
Of the eight-member Class of 2021, Manning, Woodson and Johnson were expected to be elected on the first ballot by the selection committee. As three of the greatest players in league history at their positions, Manning, Woodson and Johnson were considered shoo-ins in their first years of eligibility.
Nunn, a former Pittsburgh sportswriter hired by the Rooney family to work in the Steelers’ personnel department, was nominated by the contributors committee. Flores, who won two Super Bowls as the Raiders’ head coach, was nominated by the coaches committee.
Faneca, who played high school football at Lamar Consolidated in Rosenberg before starring at LSU and becoming a first-round draft choice by the Steelers, had to wait six years before being voted into the Hall of Fame.
Faneca, the Touchdown Club of Houston’s Player of the Year as one of the premier high school players in the area, played 13 years, including 10 with the Steelers (1998-2007). He also played two seasons with the Jets (2008-09) and one with Arizona (2010).
Faneca earned a Super Bowl ring, made nine Pro Bowls and was voted to the All-Pro first team six times. Faneca, also a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, was a Hall of Fame finalist in each of his six years of eligibility.
Lynch, who played safety for 15 years, including 11 with Tampa Bay and four with Denver, is the 49ers’ general manager. He was voted to the Pro Bowl nine times and won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. He had been a finalist for eight years – the most in history before a candidate was voted into the Hall of Fame.
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Drew Pearson's long wait pays off with 2021 Hall of Fame class - Houston Chronicle
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