As historian of the Kansas City Chiefs I am continually asked around the time of the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and this year is no different: is Willie Roaf going in as a Saint or a Chief?
The answer is he will go in as neither.
Pro football players honored by the hall of fame go in as individuals and who they played for is a matter of record not of distinction. Unlike baseball where the player’s image is depicted in a ball cap, NFL busts have no helmets or other coverings and the teams they played for are listed chronologically with no emphasis.
So, let’s put the matter to rest that one team receives more respect than another in a hall of fame player’s career. Certainly, a player will be recognized more for his achievements with one team or the other but it is not the hall of fame’s business to decide which one that is.
