Canton, OH (My Sportsbook) - Troy Aikman, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the
Dallas Cowboys, and the late Reggie White, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, were among the list of six new members enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden, quarterback Warren Moon and Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Rayfield Wright were also enshrined.
The 39-year-old Aikman, now an NFL television analyst, won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys. Selected first overall in the 1989 draft out of UCLA, he started all 165 games he played for Dallas and is the franchise's all-time leader with 32,942 passing yards and 165 touchdowns. Aikman is the winningest starting quarterback of any decade with 90 of his 94 career wins coming in the 1990s. He also held or tied 47 Dallas passing records.
Injuries and concussions forced Aikman to call it quits after the 2000 season, but he was an accurate passer with six Pro Bowl selections and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII after the 1992 season in a 52-17 victory over Buffalo.
"It's almost too much to believe," Aikman said, his voice cracking on stage. "I am humbled to be welcomed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
The Cowboys won Super Bowls following the 1992, '93 and '95 seasons, and with an offensive attack that featured Aikman, Michael Irvin, and running back Emmitt Smith, now the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Dallas was nearly impossible to stop.
In attendance Saturday was Dallas' key offensive weapons from Aikman's days - Irvin, Smith and fullback Daryl Johnston.
"We had a good system in Dallas, although it wasn't one that allowed me to put up big numbers. That was fine," Aikman said. "I did what was asked to help the team win, so it's extremely gratifying that after a career of putting team accomplishments in front of personal achievement, today I am receiving the greatest individual honor a football player could ever receive. I didn't seek it, and yet I'm here."
White, who died in December 2004 at the age of 43, held the all-time record with 198 sacks -- a mark since surpassed -- when he retired in 2000. After two years in the USFL, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers from 1985-98, winning a Super Bowl with Green Bay after the 1996 campaign. He came out of retirement in 2000 to play with the Carolina Panthers.
Fans in attendance chanted "Reggie, Reggie" and the bust of White was unveiled by his widow, Sara, and his son, Jeremy. The two then hugged in tears.
"Reggie was not phony. Reggie stood for what he believed in. Whatever you believe in, you stand on your principles," Sara White said. "Do not let anyone sway you."
White became an ordained minister at the age of 17 and later earned the moniker "The Minister of Defense" as a senior at Tennessee. He twice led the NFL league in sacks, and his 21 for the Eagles in 1987 is tied for third place on the NFL's all-time single-season list.
"If life would've had a Hall of Fame for people who were important in society, I would be so bold that my dad would be in the life Hall of Fame," Jeremy White said. "His passion for God, his love for his family, and community, and his dedication toward making the world a better place would at least get him nominated."
Incredibly, White recorded more sacks (124) than games played (121) in eight seasons with the Eagles, and he became the Packers' all-time sack leader with 68.5. He had 12 seasons with 10-plus sacks and was honored as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and '98. He was elected to 13 straight Pro Bowls.
Several of the 2006 Eagles were on hand Saturday, wearing No.92 jerseys in honor of White. Those players included Donovan McNabb and Jon Runyan.
Moon never played in a Super Bowl during his NFL career, but won five CFL Grey Cup titles in six seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos before joining the Houston Oilers in 1984. The nine-time Pro Bowl choice enjoyed a stellar 17-year NFL career, throwing for 49,325 yards with 291 touchdowns for the Oilers (1984-93), Minnesota Vikings (1994-96), Seattle Seahawks (1997-98) and Kansas City Chiefs (1999-2000).
Moon is the first African-American quarterback to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"It's a subject I'm very uncomfortable with sometimes, only because I've always wanted to be judged as just a quarterback," Moon said. "I accept the fact that I am the first, but I also remember all the guys before me that blazed that trail to give me the inspiration and motivation to keep going forward."
Voted to nine Pro Bowls, Carson recovered 14 fumbles during his career that spanned from 1976 to 1988. Carson topped Giants defenders in tackles five seasons and has been regarded as one of the best run-stoppers of all-time.
"It's been a tremendous ride," Carson said. "It's been my honor to represent all of you, the National Football League, the Giant organization, my family, and I think the New York Giant fans."
The 70-year-old Madden, now a revered NFL TV analyst, compiled a .759 regular season winning percentage (103-32-7), which ranks as highest ever among coaches with 100 career victories. He was one of the youngest head coaches in history when the Raiders hired him in 1969 at age 32. Oakland never suffered a losing record under Madden and he engineered the team to a victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. His team won 17 straight games between 1976-1977 seasons, one short of the NFL record at the time.
"We always talk about immortality, and some of us think we'll be immortal and we'll live forever," Madden said. "We're not going to be...but through this bust, with these guys, in that hall, we will be forever. When you think of that, it just blows your mind."
Known as "Big Cat." Wright was voted to six Pro Bowls and played in eight championship games and five Super Bowls during his 13-season career with the Cowboys.
"Fans always ask me who my toughest opponent was, how tough they were, who they were," Wright said. "I played against the best. My body still hurts when I hear their names called. But I wouldn't be here today without these great players."
Lesley Visser, the 2006 recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, was also honored. She was the first woman to be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.